Before the government shutdown was nearly averted one week ago, people already began blaming either Republicans or Democrats for the near disaster. Absent from most of the blame, though, was actual substantive discussion of the budget. We have few representatives from either party actually trying to serve the American middle class.

In a highly engaging, sparsely attended lecture at Maxwell Auditorium entitled ‘In Defense of Government: A Challenge from the Left,’ John Trickett, a Shadow Minister of State for the Cabinet Office in Great Britain outlined how democracy is weakened when a small group of elites control much of a country’s wealth. Over time, the wealthiest 1 percent has disproportionately increased its income when compared to the rest of Americans. Wages of the middle class have simultaneously decreased during the past few decades.

In the proposed budget by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), this problematic situation will continue. Ryan made no significant reduction in defense spending. He also desires to continue tax breaks for the wealthy, which are unhelpful. This demonstrates his inability to seriously cut spending.

Few congressmen are left who seem to base their positions on their constituents’ interests. Exceptions such as Vermont’s independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, I.-Vt., are the rare representatives who emphatically express middle and lower class American’s interests. Sanders recently published a list of the 10 worst corporate offenders who receive tax breaks. Among them is Exxon Mobil, which made $19 billion in profits in 2009. Exxon received a $156 million rebate and paid no taxes. General Electric had a $26 billion profit, paid no taxes, and received a $4.1 billion rebate, according to Sanders’ website. Outrage over these companies and these loopholes is relatively absent, though.

President Barack Obama, who supposedly campaigned to represent the lower and middle class has not lived up to his hype when considering budgets. Rather than taxing the rich, he caved in when under pressure last December. In a speech given on April 13, he defended his position against Ryan’s budget, claiming, ‘These are the kinds of cuts that tell us we can’t afford the America that I believe in and I think you believe in.’ Hopefully in the 2012 budget, he will stand his ground.

It is now laughable that leaders and politicians like Obama still claim the United States is the greatest country in the world. Some of our most basic government responsibilities such as education, transportation, health care and infrastructure are far behind the rest of the modern world. Perhaps, our leaders’ conception of ‘great’ is different. Certainly, it cannot be objective or measurable.

There is little chance that the next budget will fix these blatant inequalities and loopholes. Instead of threatening to pull funding from programs which benefit many communities, such as Planned Parenthood, Republicans and Democrats need to consider taxing the wealthy. Programs benefiting wealthy corporations need to be cut. Everyone, including billionaires and millionaires must sacrifice – not just the poor or middle class. Even our defense budget has to be cut. Ending the two wars we are in now would be a good start. But these positions are not likely to be a popular among a majority of our leaders.

Americans should demand leaders who will truly represent their interests. For a growing number of Americans, these leaders will be committed to saving the middle class. Unfortunately, because of our partisan political system, the select few who are able to be elected are those who have money and a party affiliation. The brightest minds and ideas are often found in independents, but Americans are content with choosing between the ‘lesser of two evils.’ This is not a choice, at all. Nor is it real democracy, either.

 

Published on April 20, 2011 at 12:00 pm