The Dark Side of Politics

Politicking has now become an overrated issue as politics has taken its toll now (in a heavier sense) in governance and public service.  Erring politicians have now become more self-serving than instead of focusing more on policymaking that will benefit the general public.  The disputes among politicians, which adversely affected the public, can be rooted on partisan politics wherein political parties are considered more important than the general interest of the nation.  Politicians put more emphasis on the interest of their respective parties than on being objective in setting laws and policies for the greater good of everybody.  This is one of the sad facts in the realm of politics and public governance.

The Congress, for one, is the best “representation” of erring politicians and so many politicking.  There are many instances and hearings wherein policies are not passed, not because these laws are lame and unacceptable, but congressmen tend to vote more on what their respective parties stand for (and not on the policy itself).  Even the House of Congress of the United States of America is not spared from all these hoola-limbos of dirty politics. As one can notice over the news, erring Republicans and Democrats are obviously taking side of its members in politics to the point that rational passage of law has become the second best only.  Such occurrences can be best construed when voting of passages is done in Congress. Representatives are likely to vote on what their party thinks than on their respective judgments.  This can be clearly seen on who vote this and who vote that – and if one will really look closely, votes are mostly likely categorically grouped into parties.  It is a sad fact that could not be really denied.

Meanwhile, such thing is not only prevalent in the House of Representatives of America, but also in any other Congress of some nations. We can see it over television wherein legislators argue violently, to the point of hurting each other physically.  There are moments that, because of their too much being candid on national television over their unguarded emotions, legislators sometimes look funny already.  True enough, video clips of these policymakers getting physically violent with each other look comical already and have become points of jokes in commentaries and other broadcast shows.  A show of Congress becoming into a bloody sport venue is something not to be proud of by the electorates.

Despite of this ugly reality, however, the general public should not be disillusioned on governance and the importance of government. These politicians (or legislators) are not the only ones that make-up the government. The general public is part of the government. In order to have intelligent and public-serving leaders, people should vote those who they think are appropriate for the positions.  They should vote wisely and never give votes to that who is just mere politicking.  In this way, electorates not only exercise their freedom of suffrage, but they also contribute in making their country a better, safer and well-secured place to live in.

The Lowdown on Barack Obama’s Stimulus Package

United States President Barack Obama’s stimulus package is formally known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The various measures in the plan pledged more than $787 billion in tax cuts, unemployment benefits, and other provisions aimed at helping those affected by the recession and economic downturn get by.  Basically, the plan hopes to increase spending on aid to states that are having difficulties in their own budgets and also on infrastructures.

With the United States experiencing its most severe downturn in recent years, the stimulus packages hoped to lessen the impact of the downturn on businesses and states, avoiding closures, cut-backs and lay-offs.  It also hoped to hasten recovery.  The U.S. Congressional Budget Office relates that most of the money will be spent next year.  In fact, according to the Recovery.gov Web site, only $179 billion of the total amount promised to have been allocated and merely a third of that has been spent.  Much of the money will be allocated and subsequently spent in 2010 when the effects of the downturn are most likely to linger.

The stimulus plan encourages people to spend, as evidenced by the enormous and wide tax cuts it includes.  Employees would see a $500 reduction in their taxes while those who are unemployed can look forward to expanded unemployment benefits, healthcare benefits and food stamp benefits.  It will also fund school improvements, educational loans, as well as tax credits for college students.

In healthcare, the stimulus plan will bring in more than $5 billion in preventive care programs and community health center improvements.  It will also pour $6 billion to help homeowners save up on energy costs via tax credits on conservation measures and replacement of old appliances. An allotment of $5 million will help families with mortgages.

Indeed, Obama’s stimulus package attempts to become the most comprehensive plan in recent years.  And it has so far been successful in increasing the country’s GDP.  However, the plan is not without detractors.  A lot of criticism has been thrown against it.  One of these contends that the plan increases the budget deficit that the U.S. has.  The plan will be paid for by debt.  Another criticism says that all the measures are temporary.  In fact, some economists have voiced out their negative opinions, saying that the package will not help the country’s economy at all.  The Congressional Budget Office has released a study showing that the package will, in fact, hurt the economy in the long run.

Most people, however, agree that an aggressive and sizable plan was needed to soften the effects of the downturn.  President Obama has been lauded for his move to achieve this and still avoid creating further doubts about the country’s debt position.

Is the plan working?  So far, it has been able to inch its way to its goal, which is to encourage consumer spending while cushioning the impact of the downturn on those who are directly affected by it – specifically those who are laid off, those who are losing their homes, and those who are running small businesses.  The package is helping to create jobs, which in turn stirs up consumer spending.