By now everyone is well aware of the recent government shutdown. The effects are widespread, leaving some 800,000 without work. The long term ramifications are unknown as is the length of the shutdown. Out of this uncertainty, however, one thing has become abundantly clear: people like to point the finger. 44 percent of Americans blame the GOP, while 35 percent blame President Obama and the Democrats in the U.S. Congress. These accusations shouldn’t come as a surprise. It doesn’t take a government shutdown to reveal how polarized the country is. Simply put: it’s gone too far. It needs to stop.
This polarization can be traced the 1960s and 1970s, as the Democrats became the party of civil rights and the Republicans forged an alliance with the religious right. By the 1980s, the two parties were well on their way to ideological entrenchment: liberals and more recently moderates no longer felt at home among congressional Republicans, while conservatives felt unwelcome among congressional Democrats. The trend has been steady as it approached the insane levels of today. Political parties are beginning to resemble sports teams, complete with diehard fans that discount any ideas put forth by the opposing side. Now it’s gone so far that the government itself cannot function to the degree of even remaining operational.
The difference in American ideals is no excuse for the level of political incompetence being displayed, however. Black and white negotiations don’t have a place in today. Especially today, as failure to reach an agreement between parties before the debt ceiling could spell out an economic doomsday for the country. Coming together is more easily said than done, unfortunately. That said, it is not impossible if both Republicans and Democrats are willing to compromise.
The key for ending the stalemate may come in the form of moderate Republicans, however. As Democrats remain unified, the gap between the GOP center and right is widening. For the last two decades, Republicans such as Patrick Meehan, have been the odd men out in a House caucus controlled by Conservatives such as those aligned with the Tea Party. With the first shutdown in more than 17 years as a new impetus, however, Meehan and like-minded colleagues may find the necessary sway to help reach a middle ground with Democrats.
This said, Americans should place neither the solution nor the blame exclusively on the politicians of either party. After all, it was we the people who put them into their currently held positions of power. Their failure as negotiators is a result of our failure as voters. We too must set aside our entrenched views in exchange for cooperation between both parties. Informed and unbiased decisions based upon personal opinion rather than partisan allegiance is the best defense against the sort of gridlock that brought about the current government shutdown. There is no other option. We will either come together now or we will watch as our differences bring the nation to its knees.