Government by Crisis
Since the elections of November 2008, most Americans have become well aware that our government has failed to effectively deal with the serious crises now facing our nation, and also failed to develop a plan to deal with potential crises looming on the horizon. We are in an unenviable state of legislative gridlock at a time in our history when decisive actions are needed more than ever.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons being advanced for America’s current dilemma. Our elected representatives are not shy about pointing at each other and blaming the other side; but neither side is willing to compromise their position for the good of the American people. Unfortunately, legislative gridlock is likely to continue in the near future, and national crises are equally likely to continue to be unresolved. The price of inaction could be very, very high.
No comprehensive plan has been developed to deal with the impact of skyrocketing national debt. The three biggest contributors to the ever-increasing debt are Social Security payments, Medicaid payments and entitlements; yet all three of these huge government programs have been declared “sacrosanct” by spineless politicians who lack the courage to tackle politically sensitive issues. There is not a single elected official in Washington who is unaware that the natural growth in these programs will soon become unsustainable. These same officials know full well that the price in inaction will soon grow to a level of $1.0 trillion per year in interest payments needed to maintain a continuation of “deficit” funding.
Due primarily to our gridlocked government, America is quickly becoming a nation of “government by crisis”. Although the Obama Administration has attempted to avert a looming crisis in health care, the opposition has done everything possible to ensure that health care reforms are thwarted, and that the “promised” health care crisis will be allowed to actually occur. Once again, politicians know full well that health care costs have become so prohibitively high that less and less employers will be able to provide it, and that more and more Americans will soon join the ranks of the uninsured. Ultimately, the price of allowing a crisis in health care to occur will be the thousands of corpses of Americans who have died from curable and treatable diseases.
We are at a serious crossroad in America, where we must quickly choose between action or inaction. The path of inaction is a path that will almost surely lead our nation to “third world” status. In this scenario the middle class will become a much smaller segment of society, and the American dream will be lost to all but the wealthy minority. The unsolved crises in social security, medicaid, entitlements and health care that were ignored and left to fester will lead to a state of hyper-inflation, and the ultimate loss of America’s great wealth to its creditors. The American people must insist from their politicians that inaction is no longer a viable alternative. We must all demand that “government by crisis” will not be allowed to continue.
-Rich
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If any more proof was needed of the incapacity of the American government to actually govern, the recent failure to extend unemployment benefits thanks to the objections of a single senator should do it. Thomas Jefferson observed that “we pour legislation into the senatorial saucer to cool it.” More like deep freezing.
Is it any wonder we have Tea Parties. I am no enthusiast for third party movements but something has to give. We need less talking and more votes up or down. Give the American people a record to vote on in November.
Obama was asked directly during his little summit how his plan would control costs. He nicely ignored it and moved on.
Great post – but – I would like to point out that there is no health care crisis in this country – unless you point it squarely at Medicare and Medicaid. 85% of this country are insured. 10% are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid but haven’t enrolled. 2% make $75k or more and choose to self-pay. Only 3% are unable to afford health care, don’t have it through their employer, or aren’t eligible for Medicaid. This is a fabricated “crisis” by this administration. There is no need to overhaul the entire system for 3% of the population. If they truly wanted to solve health care – they would push for access to affordable health care – that doesn’t mean mandated government controlled consumer products like insurance. That means actually bringing down what is causing health care costs to increase – government regulations and intrusion. Government already controls the health care insurance industry by controlling the amount insurance companies are allowed to reimburse. Insurance companies aren’t the demons here – the government is.
Both sides of the aisle are pussies and refuse to do what is right for this country and that is to end all entitlements and cut government spending in half right now. The crisis is not in health care – the crisis is in the economy and the lack of jobs as a result of failed government policies on both sides of the aisle.
BTW – noticed you aren’t on EC any longer. At least I have you in my blog roll to be able to drop in from time-to-time.
every senator in washington who is running this term for re-election should have to return to their district and hold a special meeting explaining how they missed the deadline for the unemployment benefits. that’s the only way they should not be lined up in front of a plastic covered wall and have garbage lobbed at them from passing busses of the people who are without support due to their “Let Them Eat Cake” attitude.
it appears that someone has passed those rush jellybeans around on the floor and everyone is now brain dead.
is there a bill being passed to get a generalized bitchslap mounted for the members of our so called legislature ?
I’d put in an application to be one of the ceremonial bitchslappers for a disabled person who can’t slap hard enough. I believe in equal opportunity to beat a mofo down.
Really Doh Rich, this has gone far enough don’t you think ?
Pardon Me but are we living in Haiti ?
the politicians disappear when we have a crisis; but then magically they show up for entitlements. Please tell me, what do they think the american people are entitled to ?
what kind of craziness is this pray tell ?
is there anyone who is smart enough to realize the immediate danger of their busta like attitudes ? it’s not the poor citizens who are creating these untenable budget items. It’s the same lifetime bustas, who have broken our system down to the state of emergency it is presently in.
there should be a public examination of the voting records, pork and relection data for each and every member of our legislature. the data should be easily publicly available when you are voting. there should also be a national referendum on term limits. this is the best time to have it, when there is crap like this going on, stopping progress.
this would allow us to make more informed choices in pirates.
I’m so tired of these games that I just want to call jack sparrow, aaarrrgggghhhh. the american government has turned into a circus complete with magicians and a clown car called congress.
Whoo HA ! pass the peanuts cause the republicants look hungry, and they ain’t passing nothin else, trust that.
It’s hard to face the truth about bad government and realize that there is no politician who can lead and make positive changes. It’s like they need people only to vote and nothing else. But when one country start to fall down, then it’s unbelievably hard to stop falling first and then to start climbing again. Nowadays I’m afraid we can’t even imagine how important government decisions are. And they make bad ones.
Windroot,
It is clear that single senators have far too many “procedural powers” to block the peoples’ business from happening. The minority party is always quick to complain about the “tyranny of the majority”, but not so quick to recognize the will of the majority.
Harrison,
The Democrats were quick to point out that the health care reform package will save billions of dollars over the next ten years, which the GAO does not dispute. We all know that health care costs are spiraling out of control, yet the Republicans choose to ignore this fact rather than concede a political victory to the Democrats. It’s really kind to pathetic. Ignoring Republicans is probably the correct strategy, considering how useless they have become in getting anything done.
BoBo,
I certainly agree that politicians do not have the courage to deal with America’s skyrocketing national debt, although I also think that there is a great need for health care reform. Over the few decades we have allowed our government to enact numerous programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, along with many other entitlements that have consumed most of the government’s revenues. At the same time we have fought “unfunded” wars, and enacted mega-billion dollar tax cuts. Somehow, we, the people of this country have to take control of our own destiny, and stop the “madness” before it’s too late; before America is driven into total, financial ruin.
BadGals,
The fact that a single senator was able to stop the extension of unemployment benefits is a national disgrace, especially since the rate of unemployment remains high. As of February 28, approximately five million folks will have their UC lifeline cut off completely. This is a perfect example of how government is failing to do its job of representing the interests of the people.
NewsMeBack,
The sad truth is that our government is in a state of gridlock, where nothing at all is being accomplished. As a nation, this is a very perilous path to take, since the world around us is rapidly evolving. If we continue to stand still, and let our debt amass a ever-increasing rates we will eventually be faced with an economic meltdown, which will destroy our standard of living, and make us a third world country.
What an insightful post. As I’ve grown older I grow more amazed at how narrow sighted it seems that the government has grown. Our once forward thinking nation seems to have stumbled into a quamire of political gluttony and those unfortunate souls at the bottom are suffocating. How sad.
If you actually read the analysis it “saves” money because it bills us now then starts paying for it years later. The “savings” comes from not having to pay for anything upfront.
That’s a fact and not up for dispute.
I also am hoping that Obama crams his health care bill down America’s throat. This will certainly be the end of the Democratic party’s majority after November.
I pay $15K per year for health insurance. I will cancel this and just get insurance when I am sick since they can’t refuse me. Any “penalty” can’t be close to the $15K cost I pay now. Once everyone does this chaos will follow and the system will surely collapse but I might as well take advantage of Obama’s stupidity while I can.
John,
Most Americans (Democrats and Republicans) realize that the health care system needs to be reformed in order to work more efficiently, and to reduce spiraling costs. The major contention is how to go about reforming it. Right-wingers love to rant and rave about how the “sky will be falling” if the Health care reform Bill is enacted, but I think America will somehow weather the storm. The Democrats may lose their majority in November, but we’ll make sure the country never forgets we were in charge for the last two years.