There’s nothing like being an American living in another country when the “politics” of the USA become so absurd that random people in the country where you are living begin to ask you “Hey! What’s going on over there in the U.S? Why are they shutting down the government?” All you can do is shrug your shoulders and say “Because Congress’ agenda has been to stop President Obama every time they get a chance.” To which most people reply, buy mind “Didn’t the people elect him as President?”  Yes, viagra of course the people did but Congress cares nothing about “We” the People, click which has become abundantly clear over the past few months, weeks and days. The most dysfunctional, do nothing, inept, self-centered and navel-gazing Congress in history resides in Washington, DC right now! They have become useless fodder for the late night comedy shows and social commentators…they are a JOKE! But it has become an extremely serious matter and it is increasingly difficult to just keep on laughing because people’s lives and livelihood are now in peril. Most people who are fortunate enough to have full time employment are barely “making it” and live life on the edge of financial instability. Paycheck-to-paycheck is the standard modus operandi for millions of people and this government shutdown has become hazardous to the many while a political game for the few.

Then there is the blame game that is being played like some sort of schoolyard brawl. Within the context of who did what to whom and who started the fight, there lies the problem of a false equivalency that attempts to lay blame for the situation equally all around. Congress blaming the President of the United States (POTUS) for not negotiating and the POTUS no longer willing to entertain concessions on the Affordable Health Care Act, which was passed into law and upheld when challenged in the Supreme Court, or the Debt Ceiling being held as a ransom in exchange for Congressional agreement on anything else? What in the Sam Hill is going on in Congress? Have they utterly lost their minds? Are they no longer elected by the people to DO the people’s business? Nowhere in the world could a group of people have such poor job evaluations, performance ratings and lack of productivity over such a long period of time and STILL keep their jobs, benefits and salary while the very people they represent suffer lack and loss of the same benefits this do-nothing group of people continue to enjoy!

I have no way of explaining the shenanigans going on in our nation’s capitol right now. As some folks say over here in South Africa, “I’m gob smacked!”  There are no words…but if Congress doesn’t get its act together soon and very soon, “We the people…” will need to show them a better way and exercise our rights to throw them out!  What they are doing now is almost criminal. They are stealing from the U.S. treasury and being paid for a job they are NOT doing!

Dr.T
Tawnya Pettiford-Wates. Ph.D.
Artistic Director and Founder
The Conciliation Project
Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University
DrT@Margin2theCenter.com
www.theconciliationproject.org

Up Next Week:  The Problem of Black & Brown in South Africa