the games we play

Once again there was a full weekend slate of games, with each earnestly attempting to win.  The challenge is that such an account could easily depict either the National Football League or the President and Congress.  At least in the NFL, a struggling team takes more responsibility for the situation they’re in.  The President and Congress — regardless of party — spend more time blaming the situation on the other than they do in solving the problem.  They spend too much time in front of the cameras.  Too much time rallying the troops.  Too much time playing games!  They play political games.

 

Unfortunately, we, the public, too often camp in front of biased, un-objective “news” sources, allowing them to rhetorically seduce us, as we join in the reindeer games.

 

Geepers.  With all due respect (and “due” seems temptingly relative at the moment), the President and Congress need to halt the insults, turn away the cameras, roll up their sleeves, and learn to work together.  If we can negotiate with Syria, we can negotiate with senators and representatives.  I don’t care if their offensive lines are depleted.  I want our leaders of both parties to realize this is not a game.

 

As of midnight last night, a Republican-led House and a Democrat-led Senate and a Democrat-led White House hadn’t passed and enacted a law allowing the federal government to spend more money.  Constitutionally, if Congress doesn’t pass a law to spend money, the government isn’t allowed to spend it.  Hence, government is required to “shut down,” thereby no longer funding “non-essential” functions or personnel.

 

At this time, 3 observations in particular exist from the Intramuralist’s perspective…

 

One, hypocrisy is rampant in this situation.

 

As pointed out in Sunday’s post, how parties feel about spending more or less is often directly tied to their majority or minority position.  See Pres. Obama’s quotes as a president and senator; they are strikingly different.  The hypocrisy is central to each party’s game-playing.

 

Two, government shut downs have happened 17 times since 1976…

 

From a Democrat-led House and a Democrat-led Senate under Republican President Gerald Ford… to a Democrat-led House and a Democrat-led Senate under Democrat President Jimmy Carter (5 times)… to a Democrat-led House and a Republican-led Senate under Republican President Ronald Reagan (7 times)… to a Democrat-led House and a Democrat-led Senate also under Reagan… to a Democrat-led House and a Democrat-led Senate under Republican President George H.W. Bush… to a Republican-led House and a Republican-led Senate under Democrat President Bill Clinton (2 times)…

 

(Did I mention that hypocrisy was rampant?)

 

And finally, three, there’s a quick way to solve this shutdown…

 

Remember that only “non-essentials” go unfunded during a shut down; however, all lawmakers — including the President, representatives, and senators — continue to be paid.  Let’s withhold their paychecks.  Let’s refrain from funding them if they cannot or refuse to compromise and forgo the cameras.  Let’s watch then if they still engage in such a dysfunctional, political game.

 

Allow me to briefly recall a childhood memory…  My brothers will tell you that I used to consistently cheat when playing “Monopoly.”  I wasn’t very good at it — nor did I have the patience to play it well — so I would quietly and yes, oh-so deviously steal money from the bank when my older brother turned his head away.  Granted, my brothers will also gleefully add that I still couldn’t manage to win.  It wasn’t fun.  I had to steal to play.   At least when I engaged in disrespectful, hypocritical activity, I realized it was a game.

 

Respectfully,

AR