Recently on one of the Sunday morning pundit shows, hosts from both the left and right perspectives argued that Americans want a working, bi-partisan government. Both sides pointed to recent poll gains that President Obama has enjoyed since the lame duck session and the Arizona shooting of Congresswoman Giffords.
They explained that Obama’s willingness to work with those on the other side of the aisle during the lame duck after getting his “shellacking” back in November 2010. I would add that regardless of political beliefs, it’s hard to argue that Obama was in his full glory during his speech in Arizona. His poll numbers got a boast there as well. However, his State of the Union speech got mixed reviews usually being tied back to the political views of the one giving the review.
Does this mean that the pundits are correct in their claims that Americans really want a working, bi-partisan government?
On the surface, this would appear correct. Who could really argue that we want our elected officials just to argue and bicker without accomplishing anything? However, there is one major fact that most pundits and Americans often overlook: Congress is often an reflection of ourselves.
There is no doubt that most pundits that achieve some level of success on network television are well-educated and well-read. Most of us can accept that these pundits have a blind spot of seeing things outside of their perspective. They will often concede the point that they don’t share the view with the person, who usually sits across from the table from them.
A well-paid, well-trained pundit is more than capable to counter the opposing views of a opposing pundit. However, what if there is a different take on things? Could there be an another view they don’t even recognize? Should we be concerned when the mainstream pundits actually agree on something?
One problem with the modern pundits, they are pre-conditioned and pre-coached on the left versus right mentality. If President Bush believes in something, Chris Mathews has to disagree. If President Obama believes in a different cause, Glen Beck has to disagree. They fail to understand things outside of the left versus right paradigm.
So back to the question, do Americans really want a working, bi-partisan government?
Do most Democrats want Obamacare repealed? Do the Republicans want the States to drop their lawsuits that is against it which is working it way through the courts? With the current financial difficulties, how far will Republicans be willing to cut funds from the defense budget? Will they go as far as the Democrats would suggest?
Are not Americans themselves divided on these issues as much as Congress? It would appear so. So do we really want a working, bi-partisan Congress? I think not!
Anyone who has checked various forums or Facebook posts has seen a heated divide growing in our country.
While we argue if we should be in the middle east, best way to handle the budget deficit, the Constitutionality of Obamacare, the union debates in Wisconsin… We are overlooking the heart of these issues.
The central theme of all these debates is: what is the role of government in our society? One that plays an active role in our lives versus one that plays very little.
I do have worries that this divide could collapse our country. If you disagree with me, please, consider this scenario:
A state like California wants a bail out from the federal government. The Feds already have a huge debt, and can’t agree on how to do it. Also, there is a problem that the more fiscally conservative states will not want to bail out California. They would argue about why their tax dollars should go to a state that can’t manage their own budget properly.
The current make up of the House of Representatives will not support such a move. So if the Feds won’t do it directly, what might happen then? There is nothing stopping the Federal Reserve from bailing out California. This move would also hold all American taxpayers liable to the annoyance of those same conservative states
The same conservative states which are already annoyed by anti-gun laws, EPA regulations, Real ID, and Obamacare. I think this could be an issue that starts the flame of a wildfire that we will not be able to control.
So back to the question, do we really want working, bi-partisan government? Way things are between the big government and small government types, the answer is clearly no.
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