It appears that our government continues to abrogate its responsibilities to the American people.
The latest fiasco of “shutting down” the government is just another prime example of the lack of responsibility syndrome rampant in our nation’s capitol, both by the legislative and executive branches of government.
Nothing is being accomplished by the blatant political theatrics which is only providing fodder for the always present twenty-four hour news cycle.
Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today”. Currently, our government really makes this observation by Lincoln prophetic.
Congress is not only abrogating its responsibilities, it remains dysfunctional, weak and ineffective. The current farm bill expired on September 30th along with funding for the federal government. It does not appear that a House-Senate farm bill will be negotiated and passed anytime soon. Another example of the shirking of responsibility by Congress, affecting America’s farmers and ranchers, our agricultural economy, and causing more uncertainty.
Another sign of lack of responsibility, not evident to many American’s, was the fact that the United States Postal Service did not make a required payment to the United States Treasury for retirement obligations on Monday of this week. The continuing woes of the U.S. Postal Service are another example of the failure of government a very basic level. The U.S. Postal Service is an essential service of significant importance to all American’s. It is perhaps the most basic of government services. Even in spite of advances in technology, competition from private sector entities and other changes, delivering the mail and providing postal services is expected by all citizens and businesses, large and small, throughout the United States. Failure of the U.S. Postal Service will create even another challenge for our national security concerns. And the lack of action and responsibility goes on. Higher rates for flood insurance have gone into effect, due to the lack of congressional action.
From the White House and Congress we hear more platitudes and political rhetoric, signifying only promises and delay.
How will American’s react to this chaos in the upcoming 2014 congressional elections? Where is our national leadership and how will this be affected when the people speak from the ballot box? The next few months will be a time of observation and decision making for American citizens. With the lack of responsibility and stagnation continuing in Washington, voters may not choose to wait until the next presidential election to make their voices heard loudly, clearly and strongly.
And, then there is the question of America’s leadership, or lack thereof, in the rest of the world. Remember, Syria, Benghazi, Afghanistan, China and North Korea? Where is John Kerry? What has happened to the line in the sand? As emboldened terrorists gather strength and resolve around the world, in America, we talk and delay. Is this a responsible way to operate a government not long ago seen as the number power in the world?
Can the United States economy, already in a continued shaken position, sustain long term doubt and uncertainty? Look at the recent record of the stock market.
Then there are federal regulations which are helping to weigh down in a flood of paperwork and compliance programs. Even getting a medical prescription filled in the local drugstore. Perhaps the regulators mean well, however they are not the people who have to live and conduct business every day with frustration and uncertainty. Where is the responsibility here?
Whether it is personal responsibility, corporate responsibility, or government responsibility, our nation can use a larger dose of education, understanding and lessons promulgated by the founding fathers, secured by battle and strife and necessary for the future success of a healthy democratic, diverse and successful nation.
Stephan Sonn says
Editor,
The underlying non logic of this commentary by Mr Hall is kinda like a mirror image of a famous line in a Moss Hart play. As the line is spoken; “The dishes just fell in the sink” Which is to say it was clearly the fault of the dishes that just fell in the sink, with no help from the clumsy ass that dropped them; All by themselves they fell.
That is how this op-ed reads.
Government and governing are a process composed of many elements, and the most unstable being the wild card whims of what passes for humans.
Enter the Tea Party. They are often paid and always inspired to break dishes. In the breaking up of a sane process, the Tea Party is accountable by design. And recently their leadership have been called anarchists, which they clearly are by any measure.
The government is not in the business of deliberately planning to harm citizens in the manner of a shutdown.
Stu Cawley says
Editor,
I’d add that the GOP, by willingly — even if begrudgingly — acquiescing to the Tea Party’s stance is equally culpable. If Republicans wish to once again be seen as a viable political party, they’ll need to stop dancing w/ partners utterly divorced from present-day reality: those pretending the wealthy pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps; misogynists; bigots; & religious extremists.