Editorials

We're getting the government that we deserve

Highlands Today
Highlands Today
Published: March 3, 2013

Our federal government is broken. We've seen gridlock before, but we're way past that. We've seen partisan politics, but this takes it to a new level. We've seen dark days, but now we seem to have some kind of cliff we're going to fall over every other month. This isn't government, it's absurdity.

Republicans will blame the president and Democrats. Democrats will blame the Republicans. Out of every member of Congress's office comes press release after press release blaming the other side. No one takes responsibility for anything or does anything but point fingers.

President Obama signed the law forcing across-the-board cuts through everything because no compromise could be reached. The effects of this will ripple through our economy and through our lives over the coming months. As you read this you won't feel it. In a month, when they start kicking in, we'll all start to feel it and it won't be good.

The sequestration supported by Democrats and Republicans was meant to be so distasteful that both sides would work out an agreement before it became a reality. That didn't happen because no one has the political will to stand up to their constituents and tell them the truth.

The truth, of course, is that we cannot go on spending money like we have been without targeted cuts in programs that affect just about all of us, and more revenue through cutting subsidies and even tax hikes for some. There's just no getting around it. Instead, sequestration does damage to everyone and in places where it causes real harm.

We'd like to say our leaders are standing on principle, but they aren't. They are cowards. We'd like to say they are following their conscience, but they aren't. They are following their special interests who pour money into their campaigns.

Where are the statesmen, who made tough decisions because they were right and explained to the folks back home who disagreed why the decisions they made were necessary? We apparently are all out of statesmen these days.

Our nation's capitol is filled with false prophets who lie without blushing and care only about getting reelected. And our country is full of too many ignorant people who won't challenge themselves by considering facts, even if they run counter to what they believe, and buy into the talk radio idiots and TV talking heads. We have a country of head-bobbing sheep who pretend to be policy wonks but don't have a clue how it all really works.

Nope, Americans who pride themselves on being independent and willing to sacrifice won't support anything that adversely affects them even if there is a greater good. We fought two wars on a credit card without feeling the pain, but the pain was just being postponed. Here it comes.

Several people have said "We get the government we deserve," or some variation. Truer words have never been spoken.