Government shutdown has lost bite

Threat happens too often to have much impact anymore

Despite a new president in office, it’s clear that when it comes to politics in Washington, some things never change.

Congress on Friday once again approved a shortterm spending bill to fund the federal government, passed with only hours to spare to avoid a partial government shutdown, according to the Associated Press. “The bill keeps the government functioning through next Friday, which leaders hope will give bipartisan bargainers enough time to finish a $1 trillion package financing government through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year,” the AP reports.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve been down this road, with the threat of a government shutdown looming over our heads.

Had officials not come to a short-term fix, the shutdown would have began on Saturday, closing national parks, delaying tax refunds and furloughing federal employees.

At this point, the threat of a shutdown has lost its menacing tone. Unless one is directly impacted by the threat, most Americans at this point simply shrug their shoulders, think “Ah, nothing new here!,” and they go about their day.

But when our politicians act like children, refusing to budge or compromise, it sends an embarrassing message to the rest of the world. How can we effectively govern and be a world leader when our politicians repeatedly dig in their heels and refuse to work with one another?

If the budget needs work, fine. Sort out the details, put the effort into it, and make it work. But “looming government shutdown” every year delivers a specific perception about America — and it isn’t a flattering one.

Budgets, ultimately, are about compromise. Every single player has to give a little, because the goal is the good of our nation — not one specific state, not one specific pet project, not one specific politician.

Reach out to your elected officials in Washington, and encourage them to do better, because frankly, these threats have gotten embarrassing.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?

After retiring 20 years ago, I was looking for a community I could bicycle in during the winter months. I chose Yuma.

After 15 years in the Foothills, I decided to move into the city and become a permanent resident.

For the past five years, I have been riding and enjoying the wellmaintained bicycle path system offered by Yuma. After four days a week and thousands of miles I have enjoyed on the path system, I am really looking forward to the improvements the city is about to start — a safer crossing at 32nd Street and a path on 40th Street.

I will be using these on a regular basis and thank the city for these improvements.

It is great to see the city and the Bicycle Coalition working together to make bicycling such a fun sport in Yuma.