The Shutdown and the Lying Epidemic

A government shutdown is often more of a spectacle than a reality. The long-term effects are minimal and the workers going without pay are paid as soon as the new budget is put into place. While some capitalize on the inherent, dramatic nature of the moment, most seasoned political vets see it as a bargaining formality that will eventually work itself out. Although the shutdown is primarily for both sides to show their commitment to their causes, this time, it whispers of a more troubling reality that neither side would like to address. The Democrats want to avoid reducing healthcare coverage for the poorest in society, and the Republicans want to cut costs in that area to fund other interests. If either party were to give up on a policy priority to avoid shutdown, it would be of grave danger to their electability. Politicians are elected on their ability to bring about a set of outcomes for their constituents. Right now, the shutdown situation is bringing into question the ability of both Republicans and Democrats to satisfy their bases. What appears to be a battle about specific policies has actually revealed the desperate survivalist instinct of American politicians who must cling to support even as they know the dire state of the country. The debt load and the accelerating decline of the dollar force politicians to choose between admitting they can’t deliver and growing the debt burden they know is destroying the nation. 

The US debt has grown at a rate of $68,911.98 per second for the last year, and neither party has put forward a seriously anti-debt candidate in years. Bias towards the present and a misunderstanding of economic growth have led Americans to vote for candidates who promised a rosy reality that can only be purchased through the selling of their children’s futures. While it is impossible to understand the implication of a specific fiscal policy far into the future, even the most erudite thinkers can understand that present spending beyond our means must be paid back in the future. The debt has not been dealt with for the exact same reasons that it was initiated. People prefer present happiness to the uncertain future rewards of present diligence. Good institutions can keep this instinct in check, but the democratic core of the US governmental system allows misconceptions and hedonism to overpower basic principles of responsibility. It is quite easy to stir up excitement for more spending, particularly when it’s marketed as a solution to more spending in the past. Both parties point to the spending of the other to justify their own budget choices. The shutdown shows both parties unable to own up to their lie that they can fulfill their promises without any consequences. Shutdowns in the future can only be avoided when the reality of our boundless spending has been acknowledged and governance is seen as a series of painful tradeoffs.  …