How much compromise should there be in government? Is it OK for our leaders to use scare tactics to force others to come to a quick decision?
The government shutdown was just a tactic by the Republicans to rouse support for their budget proposal. Ultimately, it may have done more harm than good if it had happened. But it raises the bigger question as to what we actually need from government. I could live my life semiregularly without the government, and unfortunately there are many services provided that I simply could do without. Maybe what we do need is a “shutdown” and to start over at square one.
— Robert Sinners, first-year graduate student
Unfortunately, our politicians use scare tactics all the time, whether it’s with each other (government shutdown) or with the people (death panels). Even more unfortunately, we are in a very terrible budget situation caused by huge increases in entitlement spending and two very lengthy foreign wars. Both sides brought us to this mess, and both sides will have to make concessions in order for us to get out of it.
The politicians right now are fighting over a minuscule part of the budget, mostly for ideological and political reasons. However, soon Democrats and Republicans will have to realize that major things must change. Entitlements must be fixed and possibly reduced, and some taxes will need to be raised. Both sides have spoken of making sacrifices, fiscally and ideologically, and these sacrifices must be made across the board.
— Michelle Fantone, fourth-year political science student
Here’s how you solve the budget crisis: End all interventionalist foreign policy and cut military spending. This means end the war on terror, do not touch Libya and bring every last troop home from Germany and Afghanistan. End corporate aid and bailouts. Repeal Obamacare. There is no way we have the money for that. End the Federal Reserve System, and allow the markets to operate without interference from the government.
If it has to come down to a shutdown, good. I value a good bit of conflict in government. Not only does it allow our system to work and protect citizens’ rights, it also makes things interesting. Sometimes, compromise is not the right thing to do. It really will not be the end of the world. Think of the bright side: You can speed on the interstate and grow cannabis in states like California if the government shuts down for a couple of days. People are going to realize that life is not so bad when your nanny is not watching over your shoulder.
— Stephen Barry, first-year broadcast journalism student
The proposed shutdown was a proverbial fighting match between the parties and would have ended up hurting a lot of American citizens if it had not been cleared up. This standoff was more then just petty party differences, though — it marked a fine line between party values. Planned Parenthood was a big issue as the Republicans wanted to see government spending for this program cut, and the Democrats did not.
The issue represents a moral difference between the two parties. Parties should protect and uphold the values of those who voted for them, and sometimes it takes force, even scary force, to reach a compromise. To simply say this battle was over silly party differences is not accurate. It was over the government spending money on a controversial program. There were other factors that were mixed in as well. But in my mind, while it is sad that the budget and government came so close to being shut down, the parties tried to stay true to their voters and stand for what they believe.
— Kate Geer, third-year broadcast journalism student