The Los Angeles Times has looked to the accomplishments of the 112th congress, and it is not a long list—in fact, its hardly a list at all. From January until then end of may only 16 bills have become laws. For comparison the previous congress had passed 50 during that time, and 28 in 2007. The majority of the bills passed this year have been extensions of previous bills and unfinished business.
Of course, if you are a Democrat, this is the Republicans fault and if you are a Republican, the Democrats. Its perfect! Both sides do not have to deal with any of the contentious issues or try to find common ground they can just blame the other side. It’s the ultimate in political campaigning, you can say you struggled to pass a “fair and balanced” “common sense” solution, but “partisanship” and “politics” got in the way. Both sides claim that they are “reaching across the aisle” but that the other side is ignoring them.
It is brilliant because both sides are looking to 2012 to pass the bills they want. Why try and make compromise, when they can score political points and WIN BIG in November. If the Democrats get back the House, they can pass the budgets they want, reinstate the tax cuts, and forever solidify Social Security, Medicare and Medicade. IF however, the Republicans win in the Senate, then we can see further cuts, a Ryan Medicare/Medicade(or rather nothing at all), more tax breaks. Both sides are not proposing anything new nothing has really changed, and because of that nothing is getting fixed.
Either way, we have 1.5 years until We The People will get anything from congress. In the meantime, to accomplish what they want, both sides will drive us in the ocean. While the GOP is given everything they have ever wanted to raise the debt ceiling, they back away and hold out for more for fear of looking like they are working with the Democrats. While the Democrats scream blue murder over anymore cuts without, specifically ANY change to entitlements.
So, while the unemployment still sticks near 10% We The People must look for our own help. While many states struggle to pay their unemployed, their medicare/medicade, and their education funds the only thing we can expect from Congress is abortion bills.
Now, up until this point I have struggled to be completely neutral as to who is responsible. But I think it is pretty clear who is being ridiculous here. The Republicans are refusing to pass a bill raising the debt ceiling to pay for programs that THEY HAVE CREATED. They are refusing not because it would cause any problems or in any way hurt someone, but because they want to score political points and force Democrats to agree to things that they would never get otherwise. They are willing to ignore evidence and dangers of passing legislation defunding planned parenthood or abortion, just to score points with their base.
Meanwhile, the Senate has hardly moved on any legislation, this is likely due to the seeming impossibility of passing anything through the senate, which Republicans are now complaining about. Furthermore, Obama seems paralyzed to act on issues for fear of taking anything off of the table. Actually the actions of the President have been fairly mild in comparison to the horrible socialist, gunless, tyranny we were promised by many a Conservative. Obama has stood away making only slight comments that hardly come near the attacks of the opposing side and standing firm on some issues. In fact the president has recently put cuts to Medicare on the table. Yet he is being accused of being partisan and unreasonable.
Ultimately it is clear who is being unreasonable, and it is clear who will lose. Suffering Americans across the country will have to recognize that their government cares less about them and more about their votes. So if you are a teacher who is being fired because your state cant afford its education, if you’re an AIDS patient who relies on ADAP and it has run out, a citizen who relies on public assistance, or a company looking for a grant, your out of luck. Its okay, you may suffer, starve, you might even die…but at least the Republicans might gain some members in the Senate come 2012, so hopefully that gives you some comfort.
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