As the government shutdown continues next week, who is really being affected? It’s the people, especially those working for the government, who depend on a paycheck to survive. Meanwhile, the Democrats and Republicans are fighting against each other while still being paid.
They are more interested in winning and getting what they want. The Democrats will not vote to keep the spending as is until November 21, until they get the extension of healthcare subsidies. What is very disappointing is that they know these subsidies were coming to an end this year. They could have started this fight months before the government was scheduled to shut down. Why didn’t they do this?
Did they think that if they waited until the last minute, the Republicans would agree? The Republicans did offer to keep the healthcare subsidies for another year; however, that is not enough for the Democrats. The cost of the subsidies is currently $360 billion a year, but will all know that price will go up. Most things the government does cost 3Xs more than the original estimate. Someone must pay for this, and that is you. Anyone who has a healthcare plan through work is going to have to pay more for insurance.
Our family insurance has $6,000 deductible before the insurance kicks in. Yes, they do pay for part of a visit, but the bill can sometimes be over $200, especially for a specialist. And let’s not even talk about the $2,400 eye drops prescription we needed. All because we did not hit our deductible.
It’s not only deductibles that keep increasing, but the monthly cost of health insurance keeps going up, too. Healthcare costs are too high, but we need to lower them for everyone. Honestly, I think a lot of the problems are all the paperwork a doctor must do. They need to hire people to do all that work, causing them to raise the cost per visit. Another reason is that the government is involved in people’s care; they need to get out. Anything the government touches increases the cost. Look what the Affordable Care Act did; it made healthcare more expensive, not cheaper.
The Democrats also want to reinstate the money going to overseas and giving illegal healthcare. I am not saying we should not help people right now, but we are $38 trillion and counting in debt, and there is no end in sight. Look at the debt clock, it just keeps ticking up. It’s time for both parties to start cutting the debt. Soon they will be forced to, and it will not go well.
We are at 120% of GDP (Gross National Product). This is unsustainable. At what point are we out of money? We are currently paying $1 trillion in interest alone. No worries, your cost as a taxpayer to pay off the debt is $326,706.
That tax bill doesn’t include your local or state deficit. My county property taxes went up 23% last year because the people in charge do not know how to manage a budget. The residents were not happy, but they raised the taxes anyway. Do you think the federal government will not do the same thing? They need the money and will say they tried to prevent the increase but will raise the taxes anyway. It’s coming!
Republicans are not much better; they passed a bill in July that will add $3.4 trillion more to the deficit. They talk about the deficit, at least some of them, and yet they add another $3.4 trillion to it. Like the Democrats, they are not looking at cutting government spending. Sometimes I wonder if they are just trying to outspend each other.
What happened to representing your constituents? Really caring about them and doing what is best for them? They all talk about how they care about you, but then do nothing to help! Sometimes I wonder if these people went into politics to enrich themselves. Look at how much your representative is worth before and after they got into office. You will be surprised at what you find. Do your research before your vote.
I will reiterate, I do not think all politicians are out for themselves; however, when you’ve been in office for decades and see others making big bucks, it’s only human nature to want the same. Term limits would help this, along with banning stock-trading while in office. Why don’t they vote for this? They talk about it, but never vote on it.
Will the government be able to get things open again next week? Can Democrats and Republicans get in a room and stay there until they come to an agreement? They need to start thinking about the people they represent. That is what they campaigned and took an oath to do. Shutting down the government and continuing to take a paycheck while others get nothing is a slap in the face to all Americans.
Both parties can figure this out and need to stop acting like children. They need to do what they were elected to do and work for the people. Find a solution right now and worry about what else you want later. You still have time and should stop waiting for what you want days before a shutdown.. You already knew what you wanted months in advance. Work on what you want after the government reopens and before it shuts down again.
The other question I have is, why do we keep having shutdowns every couple of months? There should be a yearly budget to fund the government for a year, and not every couple of months. It’s time to treat the federal government like a household. If you don’t have the money, you don’t spend it. Get in a room next week and come to an agreement and open the government for next year, not a few months. It’s time to do your job!