"[R]ecently it seems that each time I vote, I am being asked to compromise my conservative ideals and my commitment to the American taxpayer simply for the benefit of political gain."
Jeff Miller
The Constitution. The Connecticut Compromise. The Debt Deal?
The Constitution. One of the greatest compromises of all time. Without The Constitution the United States of America would not be united. Men from all walks of life came together to lay the foundation for the greatest country this world has seen.
In 1787 Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth built upon the foundation of our forefathers. They presented the Connecticut Compromise, thus laying the foundation for the bicameral legislative government we now know as dysfunctional...I mean Congress.
The past few weeks we have seen how far we have strayed from our beginnings. In his farewell address George Washington warned the people of three pitfalls: debt, unnecessary conflict, and political parties. Over the course of the years we have forgotten the words of our first president. Failing to heed his words has led us to where we are today. 14.3 trillion dollars in debt. Unnecessary wars that tax us mentally, physically, and monetarily. And a country divided in half because of our "beliefs."
Yes, tonight the House passed a debt ceiling bill. Yes, at least half of each party supported the bill. But how much did our citizens really benefit from this process? We watched for weeks as our lawmakers fought a childish battle. If we cannot reduce our debt then our country is in for a rough quarter of a century. At the current rate, Social Security payments will consume all of our countries budget by 2025. How will we pay for our defense budget? How will we fund our children's educations? Collect the taxes that pay for those Social Security payments?
We won't be able to. Plain and simple. Yes, we reached an agreement on the debt ceiling. And yes, we are entering into a deficit reduction plan. But is this really cause to celebrate? Are we winning? Are our future children winning? No. I'm sure the representatives are flying back home to their families and celebrating this "victory." But what American is winning right now? I'm looking wide and far and I don't see a single one.
Today we compromised. But like the Three-Fifths Compromise, not all compromises are a real solution. We can't just sit back and accept our country the way it is. We have to push back and let Washington know that we are not satisfied with the way things are. Compromise is a great tool, but when it creates larger problems; when it puts off the inevitable; when it causes our us to be complacent, what do we really gain? A few months of a "perfect country?" No, America, we have to change and we have to change right now.
