Let's turn our attention this week to current US politics and what the budget
negotiations in Washington, D.C. mean for us. If the Republicans in the House of
Representatives and the Democrats in the Senate (and President Obama) fail to
agree on a budget for the second half of this year, automatic spending cuts and tax increases will go into effect. This process is known as "sequestration" and is very new. Previously in such situations the government would "shut down." This has actually happended several times, one of which was very
politically important. To read about the last time this happened I'd like you to
read an article from the Christian Science Monitor
.
Looking back to 1995, the Republican Party had just won massive
victories in the midterm elections, taking control of the House of
Representatives and the Senate while the Democrats controlled the White
House(sounds familiar, right?). Like today, the two sides immediately clashed
over spending. The Republicans wanted to cut spending by reducing government
programs in order to reduce the deficit (government debt) and lower taxes.
Democrats argued that the government spending was necessary and that people
would suffer if the programs were eliminated. The Republicans were led by Newt
Gingrich who was Speaker of the House of Representatives and Bob Dole, the
minority leader of the Senate. Of course, Bill Clinton was President
A
very short, clear summary of the events can be found
here while a transcript of a PBS newscast during the dramatic negotiations cab be found here
. The newscast is rather long, but if you read some of it you'll get a sense
of the tension surrounding the political fight in Washington.
Answer the
following questions: How important is compromise in the political system? If we
send elected officials to Washington to represent our beliefs and values, when
is it appropriate for them to concede some of those beliefs in order to meet the
other side in the middle? What is your opinion of the current budget battle? Are
there differences between now and 1995? (Need I remind you that rude or
disrespectful posts will be deleted, meaning that you will receive no credit for
the assignment?).
The requirements for this assignment are exactly the
same as all those that preceded it. Have a good week!
This weeks essay is about the government and compromises i think that it is important for government officials to compromise and ceartin toppics but on topics that clearly go agenst our christian religion i think that they need to stand their ground and not let satin purswade them into compromising their religion. whitch whould be a sin. jesus was tempted to eat in the desert when satan tempted him to turn a rock in to a loaf of bread and jesuse refused because that would have gone agenst his religon. there for if the learders of our country that claim to be christian are really christian then they would stand up for christ. yeah they might make a couple mistakes but not a bunch. and my opinion in the bugett battle is that they need to do what is biblical and spiritually correct. i don't think that the rich should have to pay more taxes because they earned their money and they deserve it. i think that we just need to stop spending so much money and donating so much to other countries. yes donating is good but donating money you don't have is not good for our countries buget i say this because of the incodent in hati was tragic and the us donated millions of dollars to them to help yes they could use it but our country didnt have the money to do that and there have been several other things that our county has donated to.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened in 1995 is very similar of what is happening today. The standoff between President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich last for 21 days. During this time this put 800,000 federal workers out of work, which delayed the process of government applications such as visas and passports, held off clean up at 600 toxic sites, and closed many national monuments, museums, and parks. The Republicans wanted to lower taxes and cut government spending by getting rid of some government programs while the Democrats argued that those government programs were necessary. In the problem today, the Democrats are wanting to increase taxes to prevent 44 billion dollars in cuts to federal outlays. Compromise in the political system is very important. The American government system is based on the fact that all people are equal, so if one side is allowed to pass something without compromise then the fact that everyone is equal could be questioned. In my opinion, we send those elected officials to represent our beliefs and values, therefore they shouldn’t settle for anything that goes against them. Yes, there comes a point where they would have to compromise, but they shouldn’t compromise anything that goes against their beliefs and values in any way. In the current budget, I believe that they shouldn’t increase the taxes and cut the government spending.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest problems in our society and country today portrays to what happened in 1995. For 21 days, President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich we're in dispute about several political issues. The Republican party desired to decrease tax and delete the spending by the government. To do this, this party planned to demolish many programs held by the government. However, the Democratic Party revolted against the Republican idea because they thiught that all of the programs were essential. In this day and time, the Democratic Party desires to raise taxes to help to stop $44 billion in tax cuts.
ReplyDeleteIn the government, it isn't always easy to compromise. The different beliefs and views can really throw off many decisions for our country. In the Preamble of the United States, the Declaration, and many other important documents, it clearly states that all men are created and are equal. But, this could become a dispute because one side could make a compromise and the other side would feel unfairly treated. In my defense and thoughts, the people of the United States elect those officials to show and present our beliefs and opinions. So, they should not agree with a single thing that disarrays those beliefs. The US modern day budget should not, in my opinion, add to the price of taxes and demolish the government spending.
-McKenzie Morris
What happened in 1995 happened because of a lack of compromise which is something that we are seeing now. I think that compromise is a vital part of politics and one that should not be taken lightly. No compromise can be a bad thing, but too much compromise can also be a bad thing. When we send our elected officials to Washington, we send them not only to stand up for the beliefs that e elected them for, but also to do what is best for the country. Sometimes doing what is best for the country involves compromising some of your positions. But this does not mean that it is always ok to compromise as there are some moral issues that as Christians we should never be able to compromise on (abortion, gay marriage, etc.).
ReplyDeleteMy opinion on the budget battle is that the government has been spending too much money over the past twelve years. Between Bush’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Obama’ healthcare and stimulus package the government has spent far more than it has and now has 16 trillion dollars of dept. I think that the best thing to do is cut a lot of the spending on things that don’t really affect most Americans. As far as rather or not to raise takes I think that the best compromise is to keep most people’s taxes the same. The only people that I would raise taxes on are the very wealthy in the top 1%. One big difference between now and in 1995 is that we are in a lot more dept now than we were back then. Another difference is that compromise seems even harder now than it did back than.
Bobby-Your essay answers the questions and your thoughts and ideas make sense. You are right when you say the government shut down in 1995 was because of a lack of compromise. If Congress (both Democrats and Republicans) and the President fail to pass a budget it may be because they are being stubborn and unwilling to come together for the best of the country. People suffer by not being paid if they work in government offices and there is a shut down.
DeleteThe problem that arose in 1995 is pretty similar to what is happening today. But the standoff between Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich lasted for 21 days. But during this time it put several thousand federal workers out of their jobs. It also delayed the process of different government applications such as visas and also passports.. Being on the government, compromise isn’t always the easiest to achieve. There are many different beliefs and views that can seriously change the decisions that are made for our country. In the Declaration of Independence and in the Preamble of the Constitution (very important documents) they clearly state that all men are created equally.. it could become a large dispute only because one side or the other could make a compromise and all of the other sides would feel very unfairly treated. Between George Bush’s in Iraq and in Afghanistan and the obama healthcare packages has definitely spent more than it has and now it has about 16 trillion dollars of debt.. Of all the differences, on big one would be that between now and the mid 1990’s would be that we are in a whole lot more debt problems than we really are. Another difference is that a compromise seems a lot harder than it did back then even though they try but they still find it very difficult.
ReplyDeleteThis weeks assignment is about compromising with different situations, and about how our Christian values should or should not be used in the political world. I do not believe that we should conform to the world just to please people, nor do I think we should be rude to those that don't agree with us. I think it is always good to follow your heart, and not do something just because a bunch of people want you to do it. There will always be arguments, and in certain situations, compromising is required to resolve conflict. The conflict is a lot like what is happening today. Compromising can be can be very hard when everyones views are so difficult. On certain issues, compromise is necessary, but on others, I think Christians are taking the easy way out. On issues such as abortion and gay marriage, we should never compromise. We need to stand firm on these moral issues because if we do that, we are going against God and conforming to the world. I think the decisions politicians make should reflect their heart and their beliefs. In 1995, when Bill Clinton was the president, the republicans and democrats argued over money and the economy. The Republicans wanted to cut spending and they wanted the government debt to decrease. The Democrats wanted to keep spending this money because they wanted to keep government programs to continue to be funded. You can tell that the Republicans didn't exactly get their way because The National Debt clock is continuing to get greater and greater each day. In my opinion, I believe that we should cut back on all this spending because of the increasing debt.
ReplyDeleteGood essay, Lexie. I enjoyed reading your essay very much. I agree that it is important to compromise. I also agree that as Christians we should never compromise on issues like abortion and gay marriage. I also agree that it is important to cut spending.
DeleteLexie-It is right that we should never compromise on moral issues. We should follow God’s laws and do what is right. Compromise on other matters has to be made so that a budget for our country can be passed. There is much waste in many government programs and both political parties if they are honest would agree this is true. If this waste was eliminated then our national debt would not be so high.
DeleteCompromise is essential to a political system. Without compromise we would get nowhere, which explains the numerous problems we have had and still have. Government officials are elected by the people based on their beliefs. So in one since you could say that elected government officials should not compromise any beliefs based on the fact that they were elected based on their beliefs and ideals. On the other hand, you can also see the need to compromise a little, not morally, so that we can keep moving forward and not get stuck in a rut. The current budget battle is a perfect example of the need of compromise in politics. Right now we are getting nowhere fast. The Democrats want to spend, spend, spend on programs and raise, raise, raise taxes on the wealthy. The Republicans want to lower taxes on the wealthy and cut spending costs. Both parties have valid points, but are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum. The two parties in favor refuse to compromise with each other and so they each wait till their party has the most power so that they can execute their plans. The event in 1995 is very similar to our problems today, unwillingness to compromise. In my opinion, each party should give a little so that the U.S. can move on. It is detrimental to our nation to constantly be fighting amongst ourselves. We are becoming stagnate. I have a feeling though that this is not going to change any time soon because of our stubbornness.
ReplyDeleteGood essay, Lydia. I enjoyed your essay very much and agree with your opinions. I think that compromise is very important to our political system and that lack of compromise is one of the big reasons that we are in the financial mess we are in.
DeleteWhat is compromise? It is a settlement or an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims. Compromise is very essential in politics. When government officials cannot agree on issues and how to handle them little can be accomplished. In the Congress both Republicans and Democrats often have opposing views on how issues and matters should be handled. Added to this is the fact that when measures are finally passed by Congress they must then be signed into law by the President. Many bills that come to the President from Congress have a number of aspects to them. While the President may agree with some of the bill, he may object to other parts and be unwilling to sign the bill into law unless changes are made. Unfortunately, this happens a lot in our government and little gets accomplished. For success both the President and the Congress must be willing to compromise on some of the issues. As citizens of this country we elect senators and representatives to Congress to represent our beliefs and values. However, the people who elect government officials have widely different views on many issues. Some people have very conservative views on both social issues and political matters. Others take more liberal views on fiscal matters and social concerns. On matters concerning moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage, compromise has no place. Whether we consider ourselves conservatives or liberals, we cannot fail to protect the unborn or fail to uphold traditional marriage between one man and one woman. On most other matters however, compromise must occur for any decisions to be made. If Democrats and Republicans do not concede on some of their positions nothing will ever get done and our country and people will suffer. Currently, Congress, as well as the American people, are divided in their views about the importance of a balanced budget. The President favors raising taxes on the wealthy to help fund government programs and services. Democrats are less likely than Republicans as a whole to see funds cut from any existing programs. Many Republicans feel like cutting government spending is essential. They oppose tax increases on all citizens, even the wealthy. I believe that because our national debt is now over 16 trillion dollars, spending must be reduced. There is much waste in government spending. Important programs like Medicare and federal school lunch funding for the poor should be kept. But, areas of waste should be reduced. Republicans,
ReplyDeleteDemocrats and the President will all have to compromise to pass a budget that will be good for our country. In 1995, since a budget wasn’t passed the government shut down and that hurt a lot of people. Many did not get paid at all until a compromise was reached and the full government opened again. Now if a budget is not passed taxes automatically increase and spending cuts go into effect. This is called “sequestration”. Even though the government would not shut down, it would not be good if sequestration happens. Just cutting spending without being specific is not a good solution and neither is automatically raising taxes. Both of these things would hurt America.
Compromise is making a deal with two different parties or groups. Usually in disagreements or whatever compromises are established to settle the dispute. So, are compromises needed for political things? Yes, I think very much so. If we had official people that we voted in, I think they should compromise if that’s who you voted for. Compromises are essential, I think. I think we don’t need to just be taken advantage of, but say what you think and if a compromise is what you need a compromise, however; that would be hard trying to have the middle and everyone agree. It has to be hard trying to decipher what other people want and what they think the leader should do. A compromise is made in order to try to agree. The current budget battle is a lot like 1955, but there are differences. Our budget battle, my opinion, needs a compromise. Both sides need to say and agree on something. I think also, that our mind set is not on the right purposes. When the two parties disagree on the compromise, there will be problems. I think there are a lot of factors in not being able to agree and make a compromise. I think people just want what they want and they don’t care of other and some are just stubborn as a mule. They need an open mind and just do what is fair, just and right. Choosing what everybody is going to do is difficult because people could disagree and choose wrong things.
ReplyDeleteSarah Flinchum: GREAT job on your essay! I think you pretty much nailed your essay! You knew exactly about everything and it was very informational. I thought it was great how you went into situations and disagreements that arising everyday and stuff that we see today in Congress. To me it’s shocking where we have come from the 50’s and today we see and have to make compromises that seem unreal. Awesome Job on your essay!
ReplyDeleteAmanda Wiggington: Great job on your essay! It was very good and well-written. I liked how you threw the important documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble. It all really goes back to those documents that were introduced to us a long time ago. Those documents are what this country was founded and still should be followed today. I think we could learn a lot from the past and not repeat the mistakes that they did. Great Job on your essay!!
Because this week’s assignment is centered on the word compromise, we must first define exactly what that word means. Compromise according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions” or “something intermediate between or blending qualities of two different things.” Compromise is an extremely great thing, especially in the political realm. Without compromise nothing would get accomplished; our country would remain deadlocked on a multitude of vital decisions. This is easier said than done, however. When we do elect our officials to represent us at either the state or national level, we elect them for a reason: their political/moral/etc. standpoints. Obviously it would be ludicrous to send an elected official to just sit and not stand up for what they believe in. I believe that each elected official should maintain strong in what they believe in, but also look at the big picture and ultimately follow God’s plan and do what’s best for the people of our country. The current budget battle is a phenomenal example of what not compromising evolves into. Our two main political parties are deadlocked on whether we should spend more and raise taxes on the wealthy ( the Democrats) or spend less and lower taxes on the wealthy( the Republicans). After multiple attempts from both sides, the two parties are still struggling to compromise on how to execute the problem. The issues with the budget and not compromising today are very similar to the issues of 1995. Hopefully we can learn from our past mistakes and finally compromise to help our country prosper even more.
ReplyDeleteLydia Ramsey- I really enjoyed reading your essay for this week’s assignment! I agree with you on everything you said especially about how without compromise, America can’t move forward. Overall, I thought that your essay was very well written and was full of easy to read and concise information. Great job!
ReplyDeleteSarah Flinchum- I also really loved your essay for this week’s assignment! I think that you are absolutely correct in everything you said. You had so much unique information in your essay and it was truly really interesting to read about. Overall I thought you did a really great job on your essay for this week’s assignment.
Bethany Cox- I also really enjoyed reading your essay for this week’s assignment. Compromise is definitely something our country really needs. Overall, I thought your essay was full of information, easy to read, and was concise. Great job!
Thank you,
Rebecca Dunmore
Great job on your essay, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteYour essay was full of information. Compromise is certainly an important aspect of politics. Again, great job.
Great job on your essay, Bethany! It was full of information and written quite well. Compromise is certainly an important aspect of politics. Again, great job on your essay.
Great job on your essay, Rebecca! As always, you have written an excellent essay. Your essay was full interesting facts and details that were neat to read. Compromise is certainly an important aspect of politics. Again, great job on your essay!
Great job on your essay, Bobby! Your essay was full of information and written very well. Compromise is certainly an important aspect of politics. Again, great job.
Great job on your essay, Sara! Your essay was full of information and written well. Compromise is certainly an important aspect of politics. Again, great job.