AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
For something like the fifth time in four years, Congress is so far apart on their views for the country that drastic, crippling measures have been threatened. This time, we might get sequestered.
So what exactly does it mean?
First of all, let’s get one thing straight. “Sequester” is not a thing, it is a verb. Sequestration is the thing that happens, and if it does, we will be sequestered. “The sequester” is not a thing. It is bad grammar. So don’t say it.
Now, on to some particulars:
What exactly is the sequestration?
The sequestration is more than $1 trillion in automatic spending cuts that will be put in place on Friday if no solution is reached by Congress. It was intended to be so severe that it forced lawmakers to come up with a better, less serious idea for spending cuts by the time the sequestration was to be instituted. Originally, it was supposed to go into effect at the beginning of the year but was pushed back. It’s unlikely that it will be delayed again, reports the National Journal.
Who’s to blame?
This nonsense is everyone’s fault. It’s the fault of Congress, who continues to refuse to work with each other to figure out a way to get things done, which has led to extreme measures such as the near-shutdown of Congress last year, a credit downgrade and the pending sequestration. It’s more of the same crap we’ve seen in the 2000s, and there’s no sign of it stopping.
It’s our fault for electing these people, over and over again. Politics is as polarized as ever, and we continue to demand our leaders go to Washington and reflect our stubbornness. Until we start to realize that each person has their beliefs for a reason, and we should be working together to pull the country out of the gutter, our economy will continue to sit in recession.
Who will feel the crunch?
Everyone will feel it, but the thousands who could lose their jobs would feel the cuts the most. Educators, employees in the defense department and plenty more could experience joblessness if Congress can’t find a quick solution. You can read more about those jobs in jeopardy at the local level in this ABC News article.
Basically, sequestration is going to sting a little, and we have nobody to thank but our wonderful lawmakers, who yet again have failed to do their job.
For the past year and a half, this particular group of elected officials in Congress has shown itself to lack any sort of political will to do the hard things it takes to move the country forward. This is our third time down this road of self-manufactured brinksmanship and most Americans are just over it.
I finally saw the Spielberg film, Lincoln, last week. It took that Congress about a month or so to change the entire direction of the nation and end slavery. And this Congress can’t make one decision without entrenching the country in a pointless political battle that most Americans simply don’t want anymore? Give us a break.
It’s time these people grow up, grow a pair and start working together.
Agreed 100 percent. It’s ridiculous that we haven’t passed a budget in years, and that is leading to drastic measures.
Sequestration ~ sounds like a horse race … place your bets.
You are right, Sean, it’s the people who elect officials as “employees” to represent them in all facets of governing. Supposedly we are the “boss” ~ but just doesn’t work that way. Plus, in Congress, appropriation legislation comes from the House of Representatives to get the ball rolling. They have been “out” for ten days. Congress convened this week only to say ~ by the “Leader”, supported by the selected controlling body – we have no plan to do “anything” and have no immediate scheduled “work day” after Thursday.
The Leader of the House chamber stated that the Senate should get it in gear to solve the problem. Obviously, Boehner doesn’t know the Constitutional protocol of procedure. We, the people = the “Boss” are allowing one person to dictate that millions will lose their job ~ however, he will retain his.
He will sit back and reap the benefits of being Leader of the House….he’s the one who calls the shots. If he goes against his party ~ they will blackball him. Who is control of the House? The Republicans. They could strip Boehner of his perks in committee assignments = extra pay. Once again, only thinking of himself and doesn’t have the balls to stand up for the populace simply because he has no spine….nor a brain to think with on his own.
What he doesn’t want to recognize is that there are officials of his own party that are willing to work for the good of the people and would stand in support of his decision to get a viable plan in place – but Boehner has been brainwashed to think this would be in support of the “President”. The President does not write, nor pass, legislation ~ Congress does!
The constituents that voted Boehner in should be very ashamed of their chosen official because those voters are not going to be saved by “their” leader. Our President could step in and issue an executive order ~ but that is not really our way, either … not in democracy.
A mess? Our Congress is a catastrophe at the moment! This move is so unnecessary and I’m sick and tired of the Republicans “fear tactics”. This is a “power play” in a chess game and unfortunately, we the people, are the pawns ~ expendable. Is that what we truly want to be? Call your Congressman today! Email your Congressman … and if you are close to the doors in Washington …. start knocking!
It starts with the President, though. He is supposed to present a budget that will work for both sides, and his proposals continue to get voted down on both sides of the aisle. Then, both sides refuse to work together to get anything done, which pisses off the public who put them in office in the first place. Then, the public squabbles and places blame on the party they agree less with. Then, everything gets locked up. Like I said, everyone is to blame.
The scare tactics are getting ridiculous, and the sad thing is that most Americans believe them.
Even if the sequestration happens, it will cut LESS THAN HALF of what we spent on the AIG bailout.
A cut of 2.3% means that we’ll have to get by on 97.3% of our current budget… seriously.
Great article by George Will here: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-22/opinions/37240399_1_truman-deployment-aig-bailout-sequester.
This isn’t the best way to go about cuts, for sure, and it is everyone’s fault that it happened, but I say– let it.
97.7% sorry, typo. ;-) but you get the point.
Yeah, I’m sick of the scare tactics as well. It’s pitting the emotions of Americans against each other so they don’t have to talk facts. That’s the sad state of politics in America, though. We’re an emotional people now, and one side of the aisle has figured out how to work the puppet strings masterfully.