Trending
DEAR EDITOR:
As of writing this today (Tuesday), the impasse continues in D.C. over funding the government. Likewise, both sides are calling this "The Democrats' Shutdown" or "The Republicans' Shutdown."
This is absolutely a misnomer. The proper nomenclature for this is exactly what I titled this piece. It is a government shutdown. No one party from either side of the aisle is responsible, as it is in my opinion that BOTH sides are equally responsible, thus, it is a government shutdown.
I have written many pieces to this paper in its Letters To The Editor, but in case you missed it, let me repeat myself again. The current situation is why we need a Constitutional Convention to address both the elephant and donkey in the room.
First, it is time to pass a balanced budget amendment with line-item veto powers given to the president. Furthermore, as part of that amendment, it also needs to be written in a way that will keep our lawmakers in D.C. until a budget is passed, vetted and signed by the president, regardless of weekends or "holidays." No more continuing resolutions, no more pocket recissions, no more political grandstanding just because one side doesn't like what the other side is offering. As well, said amendment also needs to address both parties' addiction to deficit spending. Ross Perot in the '90s had the correct idea, "If you don't have the money, you don't spend it."
Next, term limits. I have written on this subject before here in this column. There is no reason why becoming a House member or senator practically guarantees a lifetime job. Six years for House, perhaps eight for Senate. Once you term limit out, go back to private life. Small stipend for your service? Sure. Top-notch benefits? You want those? Apply for COBRA like the rest of us when we change jobs.
Lord Acton once said, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." Until our lawmakers learn this and live by it, nothing will change.
As a parting quote that can be applied to the current situation, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." As of this writing, our senators are (again) voting on the two competing bills hoping to win over the other side. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on that by the time Saturday rolls around, we're still going to be no closer to a resolution.
BRIAN FIX
Youngstown