The United States of America has not had a Federal Government shutdown in 17 years but it seems as if we are closer to that reality since then. It seems as if the two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans, are at a major stalemate of government funding regarding a particular piece of legislation. The Republicans claim they are trying to save the American people from the dangers of a legislation, Obamacare, that will end up hurting them as opposed to helping them. They voted last night to delay the bill for one more year so they can work through it. The Democrats insist that this debate has already happened over the past four years. Congress passed the bill, it was upheld by the Supreme Court and the President was reelected. They claim the American people do not want a shutdown over the bill. What do you think is motivating both parties here?
Is the media being a responsible watchdog and calling out politicians that are playing politics with the Federal Government's funding? Should they be more involved in the debate? Furthermore, the American people are clearly not in favor of defunding or shutting down.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/23/poll-americans-oppose-shutdown-threat-59-19-percent/
I think you raise an important question in this debate: is it a journalist's job to frame an argumentative debate in rational/accurate terms, or to simply report on what is being said? Several prominent journalists have said that it is more or less "not their job" to fact-check politicians/activists. But this doesn't give the media the credit it deserves in its role of framing national narratives and discourses for the public. The media represents the medium between the government and the public, and therefore many believe it has an obligation to be stewards of the public interest in some form or fashion.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I am unsure about "obamacare" I don't think we should neither defund it or go through with a shut down. Right now I feel like be have some kids in congress right now. I think the shut down may get your point across but hurts everyone but congress. I don't take lightly that almost I million federal workers could be out of work. Especially since in the end it gets no where. Even if the government shut down "obamacare" will still go in effect tomorrow. So to prove a point that you don't like obamacare should not affect somebodies money. I don't mind them standing up for what they feel right but they are doing it the wrong way and it's not fair to the families that would be affected if the shut down goes through.
ReplyDeleteI also just posted about this same topic. Although I am on the fence about "Obamacare" (even though I am a Democrat) and whether it will help or hurt US health care I cannot wrap my head around how both parties continue to debate and cannot come to some sort of agreement. I get both sides in the debate in that the Republicans want to ensure that Americans are looked out for and the Democrats feel as if Obamacare is essential for the US health care and do not want the legislation to be touched but come on find some meeting ground!
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