The government shutdown was a selfish act by the government. It "took $24 billion out of the economy" according to Standard & Poor’s, a financial services company. From the federal workers to the small businesses surviving through government contracts to the tourism industry from national monuments and historic sites, hundreds of thousands of Americans have had to bear the burden of this unneeded complication.
United States should be the country "upon a hill" that all countries model. America used to have a great role in world affairs; America's very own Declaration of Independence inspired many other declarations of independence in the world to revolutionize their government. Yet, with all these internal conflicts, America is losing its powerful voice on the global stage. The U.S. must unite together to work out its differences, whether Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative. After all, the government is all working in the common goal to in "to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." Although the government has agreed to extend the deadline and temporarily avert this problem, this problem will arise once again. President Obama said these events had inflicted "completely unnecessary" damage on the U.S. economy. Since the government itself understands the effects of their actions, they must act swiftly and efficiently for the sake of compromise and prevention of similar problems.
If government continues to do so, the United States of America will no longer have an important role in the world. Crisis after crisis, the government will lose its credibility with its partners and competitors, which will ultimately lead to the broken fragments of a once-omnipotent force of the world.
I like how you compared the past to modern times, and how the Puritan belief of "City Upon a Hill" should still apply today. The government indeed needs to get its game together.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the government was very selfish in letting the government shut down. It has effected many innocent Americans and it will eventually undermine all the work the colonists put it while trying to build this country to where it is today.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that America is losing its reputation because of politicians these days. If the founding fathers could see how America has become, they would definitely not be too happy. Many countries strive to be better than America, and if we get lazy or too comfortable, they will surpass us!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that America is losing it's sense of being a "role model" for other countries. We need to get our act together!
ReplyDeleteYour use of Standards & Poor's quote provided a great piece of evidence! I agree, like others, with your view that America is losing its touch as the world's number 1, hope we can turn it around soon!
ReplyDeleteYour view of the government shutdown as selfish was very new and enlightening. I also agree that the United States should try to fulfill its original Puritan "city upon a hill" image. Great post vincent!
ReplyDeleteYes, the government must get its act together, but many of the issues impeding that are exceedingly complex and difficult to solve. It is easy for us as those not actively involved in government to say things like 'just cut the budget' or 'lower taxes'; however, there is a reason that problems like this have gone unsolved: equity and efficiency.
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