Monday, February 21, 2011

Functioning Democracy

So if you have been paying attention to the news lately, our federal government has not yet passed a budget. There's some talk of government shut-down come March 4 if Congress fails to pass the budget. Why? Because we are going to run out of money. What that means is not quite clear. But we can make some educated guesses. Those who receive social security checks may be affected. Those waiting for the government to process something in general (passport, visa, etc.) may be affected. And those working for the federal government? If you are not "essential," you will not be working (no paycheck) until the government passes the budget.

Half-way around the world, people are dying -- protesting, demanding, dying for democratic governments. These people want to shut down autocratic governments so that democratic governments, that represent people's voices, can be in place. And function.

We already have a democratic government -- our founding fathers fought that war for us. So that today, we are not the ones shedding blood and giving up our lives. Now, it must remember to function, instead of coming to a standstill... and be a shining example, instead of tragic mockery, of what democracy is AND can be.

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