Debt vs. Medicare: Cheap Shots, Low Blows, Both Teams Down

Democrats and Republicans are both swinging cheap shots in the wrestling ring, that is, the 2011 budget. Each side is employing “blame game” politics, where each opponent vehemently attacks the positions of the other as detrimental to the well being of American citizens. Everyone knows it is infeasible for the government to actually shutdown due to lack of compromise on the budget. The last-minute spectacle played by both parties in approving a temporary budget illustrates how unwilling each side is to compromise until there are literally no other options.

The Republican plan includes a shrinking of Medicare and Medicaid as well as trillions of dollars in tax cuts, while sparing defense spending. The Democrats and President Obama, on the other hand, envision a more comprehensive plan that would include tax increases for the richest taxpayers, cuts to military spending, savings in Medicare and Medicaid, and unspecified changes to Social Security.

Essentially, the Republicans want to severely cut the budget, reduce the deficit, and take a machete to universal causes such as Medicare. The Democrats care less about the budget deficit and do not want to drastically cut programs like Medicare.

Americans need health and they need money; both sides have their virtues. However, this childish battle is not beneficial for either side. It is making Americans disillusioned about the political process in general. If both sides cooperated and took credit for successes without refuting the successes of the opposing party, then both would benefit from a rise in public approval. The best compromise is one in which both opposing parties can propagandize their achievements.

Recently, American politics have become increasingly more polarized on the basis of partisan ideologies. Thus, compromise is often harder to achieve. However, the budget of the United States should, under no circumstances, be a platform for reelection efforts. It is one of the most important decisions agreed upon by the legislature. What will be the long-term outcome of this battle? Which side is right?

…I would argue that the long-term outcome is political disillusionment and that neither side is right in its negative and hyperbolic refutations of the opposing side.

(Photo by chmeredith under a Creative Commons license)