On Compromise.

A popular thing in the news, and topic of discussion at work, has been the inability of Congress here in the US to pass a budget for the new fiscal year. Now, I'm sure it's very difficult to get over 500 people to all agree on how to spend money, and this is why we have compromise. Unfortunately, it seems Congress didn't get the memo. Now, I'm not going to say that one party is at fault more than the other. That's not what we're here to talk about. What we're here to talk about is compromise, and how it could resolve this situation. I've had the... luxury?... of hearing different arguments about what the hold up is. Spending. Planned parenthood. Just being stubborn. So let's break this down.

Spending? A valid concern for a federal budget. That's what governments do anyway, tax and spend.

Planned parenthood? I'm sorry, no. This should be a separate discussion about whether or not to grant them federal funding. I'm not saying they shouldn't have it, I'm saying it shouldn't be a part of this discussion.

Just being stubborn? Get the hell out. You're an elected official, expected to compromise with others when necessary and do what's best for the people of your nation. Not try to push some petty "we're better than you agenda"

Do you know what I think should be on the federal budget? Things the federal government is responsible for running and paying for. Transportation. Medicare/medicaid. Social Security. The military. Federal employee salaries. Education. Do you know what I DON'T think should be part of the federal budget? Federal funds supplied to outside organizations, like Planned Parenthood or similar programs/organizations. Yes, they are all valuable and good for the American people. They are also NOT government agencies. Do they deserve federal funding and assistance? Most likely. Does that mean they have to be included on the federal budget every year, potentially holding up the process? No.

I would like to see a government learn from it's mistakes. I would like to see a government that listens to the people, rather than themselves. Instead, I see a group of people who can't stop pointing fingers and placing blame long enough to settle a budget and move forward. I see a gathering of toddlers who haven't yet learned how to share. More than that, I'm seeing people who didn't deserve the faith the American people placed in them. I'd like to point out that last part is nothing new, I'm actually consistently disappointed with the attitude and behavior of elected officials.

Here is my proposal to the government of this, or any other nation. Divide and conquer. If you can't pass a large grouping of objects under a single bill, it may be best to split it up into several smaller bills and pass them individually. Especially something as important as the budget. If Planned Parenthood is the issue? Separate it off and work to pass it separately. Work on getting vital issues covered so that people aren't stuck wondering when they can collect a paycheck again. Don't make troops and their families suffer just because you can't agree on something. Thousands upon thousands of people are going to be impacted by a government shutdown, and all I can see are people who don't care. The very people whose job is TO care about what happens to the people of this nation.

Grow up. Compromise is hard, but it's called being an adult.