EDITORIAL

Partisanship won’t steady the ship

Posted

The nation’s leaders seem to be at an impasse in finding a solution to the budgetary problems facing the nation.

The Obama Administration, along with leaders of both parties in Congress, appear to be more interested in politicking and partisanship than finding solutions and assessing priorities in the federal budget. Christian leaders including representatives from the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently called upon the President and Congress to end “the fiscal brinkmanship” and seek out a solution that can protect the most vulnerable of citizens.

In a letter, religious leaders urged the nation’s leaders to "frame the budget debate in terms of moral choices that are understandable to the American people." The letter was sent last week as trillions in cuts to government spending on domestic and military programs are set to go into effect tomorrow. More than one hundred faith leaders signed the letter that suggesting “Congress can and must develop a balanced and thoughtful path forward that protects the most vulnerable and preserves economic opportunity.”

Challenges in fiscal responsibility should not be turned into budgetary crisis if our leaders are to truly address the economic recovery needed for our nation. All too often political leaders of both parties seem more interested in scoring partisan political points rather than reaching political compromise and advancing sound policies. The time has come for both the President and Congress to work together for the common good of the nation and begin offering solutions not sound bites. The deep fiscal problems that plague our nation can never be addressed until bitter partisanship and political rancor are removed from the debate. Only then can the ship of economic opportunity and prosperity truly be steady for the nation as a whole.