Dear Elected Officials in Washington, D.C.,
I am writing to express my dismay about the partisan antics that are taking place on Capitol Hill. As a political moderate, I find it offensive that the debate over the country’s budget and the debt ceiling has been captured by the right wing of the Republican Party. I cannot believe that our elected officials are willing to “play chicken” with the economy — indeed, the national security — of this country. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, the majority of Americans are incredibly upset about our dysfunctional national government. A recent article in the Washington Post has noted that nearly 2/3rds of Americans will be looking for new Members of Congress come November 2012. While this poll focuses on the lower chamber — and perhaps they are the real problem here — it’s not too hard to imagine a scenario where our Senators are on the chopping block as well.
I am disappointed in my government.
Sincerely,
The Traveling Ph.D.
NOTE: Okay, yes, I know that I have a Ph.D. in political science so I should be developing an empirical argument here instead of playing on emotions. I understand that the Speaker is in a tough spot; I am pretty sure he cannot control the Tea Party faction. I also know that the debt is outrageously — and, as we have seen — dangerously high. But, to play chicken with our future because a handful of people are unwilling to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans? Trickle-down economics do not work! Furthermore, we are waging war on two fronts, but we lowered taxes? Seriously? Get a grip, D.C.
Tags: Politics