What is a government shutdown? One would expect that it involves a government shutting down. In the United States however this is not the case. Instead government shutdown is a term Democrats and Republicans use to blame each other. It is also used to stir up fury in the American people, who would fear a dreaded shutdown.
A more accurate term for this “ government shutdown” would be a limited government cutback. In its current state the federal government is shutting down non-essential services and unfortunately jobs. Approximately 800,000 federal workers will, temporarily, lose their jobs.
A true government could occur if Democrats and Republicans cannot pass a federal budget that both agree to. The longer this government cutback lasts the larger the effect it will have on the United States and the American people. Most likely one side will cave in to the other sides demands. I find the possibility of a true compromise remote, if a budget is not created then the federal government will cease to function.
This will be the first year that I can vote, and I am very excited for it.
Most of my friends don’t understand why I would be excited and why I care so much, which usually ends with me calling them ignorant.
To set the scene, I have gone over the ballots with my parents for as long as I can remember. They were not trying to brainwash me; they always asked me what I though of a proposition or a candidate before they spoke their mind.
I learned to read the laws and understand them in a greater sense. It was always something I enjoyed and became excited about. I was much more likely to be conversing with my teachers about politics than my peers.
And now I am able to actually vote. It feels like a freedom to me, something that is meant to be cherished. As much as my friends may go on about it not mattering if one person votes, it does. Especially in the primaries, one vote does matter.
I feel that if more children were exposed to politics and encouraged to be informed even though they could not vote, we would have much higher turn outs.
After all, a democracy does not work without voter participation. If we want to keep the freedoms that we hold dear, we must have a voice as a people. That starts, and ends, with have a politically educated youth system.
I could blog about anything I wanted. I could choose to pursue a profession that was less cut-throat and more fun. I could hide under a rock and pretend it was not there.
But instead, I have chosen to involve myself in the often frustrating and continuously puzzling world of politics.
(Augustus Caesar, one of the greatest politicians in history)
Yet I do not lack reason for this choice. While many see themselves as having a calling in fields such as business, health-care or others, I have always seen myself in politics.
My reasons are simple. I feel it is a way in which I can help people, something I have skill in, something that I enjoy, plus there is money too. It is not easy nor is it always fun, but I feel as though I would fit in well.
Politics is tricky because humans do not agree. It is difficult because a politician seeks progress in a world that is not often accepting of change. The best politicians make people feel as though nothing is changing when in fact, everything is.
Take FDR for example. At first glance, one might say, “Everyone knew how much the world was changing during his time in office!” But did they?
We look back and see how much he did to halt the Great Depression, from passing bills to inspiring the people. He also led us through one of the most difficult war times our country has seen.
But what made him great was the instilled confidence in the people. He was calm and confident. He understated the reality of the situation. He understood that sometimes the American people did not need to know information until after the fact.
The confidence he instilled in the people and the respect he earned is the glorious side of politics. There is a chance (though quite slight) to obtain a type of immortality; infamy. I do not see this as being the sole reason why anyone should seek public office, but if one’s goal is to help the people in every way possible, representing them and what they believe, then go for it.
I see myself in the wild world of politics out of a self-duty. I do not see it as a chore nor a thing of pure enjoyment. I see politics as my way of leading and my way of giving. I do not believe in fate but I do believe (at least at this point) that I want to help create the world I will live in.
Warren G. Harding said, “America’s present need is not heroics but healing; not nostrums but normalcy; not revolution but restoration.”
This is true today and it will be true tomorrow. And despite what we face, I want to be part of it.
A new CNN poll shows that 53% of Americans think poorly of the Tea Party and 28% hold “favorable views.” CNN said these were the most extreme numbers they had polled on the opinions of the Tea Party.
This is shocking to me. How can 28% of Americans support the Tea baggers? I know there are some ignorant and gullible people out there, but really? The Tea Party represents so much of what is wrong with America today and it infuriates me.
“We are taxed enough already!” Oh, are you? Because from where I am sitting we are not taxed enough. Our public school systems are tanking, we are cutting public programs like they are going out of style and on top of it all, we have a 3 trillion+ deficit.
You think that we can solve all of this by just cutting spending? Well it hasn’t worked in the past but why not waste our time again. You think boycotting the Census and having rallies that encourage citizens to not report their yearly income is helping? If you do, sorry to break it to you, but you are irrational.
I don’t find radicalism to be helpful or progressive in any form. In the manner that I am writing this blog, one might think that I am a radical Liberal. But that is far from the truth. I do not think that big government is always a good idea and I think that at times we are too Liberal in our Judicial policy.
Despite that, I find the Tea Party to be repulsive. I see it almost like I see angsty teens; using shock value and going against the grain to get attention. On that note, they should be treated like angsty teens, with that opinion of “When you grow up, you will see that you are wrong. This is just a stage.”
Unfortunately, most of the members of the Tea Party will not grow up. They will keep up with their radical ways, spreading hate and ignorance throughout the world with a little help from Fox News. All I can hope is that the rest of America wakes up and discourages the ridiculousness that is the Tea Party.
OVS Journalism Blog 
