On November 5, we will head to the polls once again in the state of Virginia to vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. Taking into consideration the recent government shut down, the debt ceiling debacle, and even the sequester earlier in the year; you have to ask yourself, “How has it affected me and my fellow Americans”? In some small way it has touched us all, and left scars on others that may never be forgotten.
In March of 2013 our nation was hit with an automatic spending sequester. This sequester was caused by our government’s inability to produce a balanced budget acceptable to both parties. The sequester was designed to cut defense spending, Medicare, and other domestic spending. These cuts directly affected military personnel, the USDA, teachers, head start parents, students, and meals for senior citizens. Middle income families struggled to hold on to what they knew as the American dream, and lower income families fought to stay above water. This was a dramatic hit to our economy at a time when our country was trying to recover.
On October 1 2013 our country was hit with another catastrophe known as a government shutdown. This was caused by a combination of government funding objectives, and a request to defund Obama Care in exchange for funding the government. The shutdown immediately furloughed 800,000 government workers. This shutdown affected civilian employees, mortgage applicants, people on food assistance, infant nutritional programs, and factory workers dependent on OHSA for inspections. During the sequester and in a time when the economy is trying to recover, this was a prescription for economic disaster.
In the midst of the sequester and the government shutdown the statutory debt ceiling was looming within site. America was slowing reaching it debt limit and if the United States congress failed to raise the debt ceiling, this would be detrimental to the already slow recovering economy. The inability of our government to pay its bills would wreak havoc on us all. Individually and globally it would cost us more to secure loans, it would cause the government to be unable to pay federal workers, social security, Medicaid or veteran benefits. It would have been a catastrophe beyond repair.
When Virginian’s head to the polls on November 5, they should be ever mindful of how this government’s malfunction has touched their lives. Each of you should spend some time educating yourself on those asking to represent you. Find out what their positions where on the major political events that have recently touched our lives; and be sure to make your vote count.
References Cited
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/03/the-sequester-explained
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/09/who-gets-screwed-shutdown-poor-people-old-people-basically-everyone
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2011/06/whats-happening-debt-ceiling-explained
