CULLMAN —
As the president and Congress drag America closer to the “fiscal cliff,” the hope that statesmanship rises above partisanship is growing dim.
The long, grueling debate over taxes and budget cuts — what to extend and what to eliminate — has provided a platform for Republicans and Democrats to drive home party philosophies, no matter how discouraging the public views this shameless parading of close-minded puppeteering. For anyone who thinks outside of the boundaries of political manipulation, the showcase in Washington is good reason for independence above party affiliations.
The political history of the United States has long brought about dramatic, colorful debates concerning a wide range of issues. Nonetheless, the great success of the United States and its political system has been the ability of leaders to quarrel eloquently in public before settling in for the real business of compromise and meaningful legislation. Otherwise, the country would long ago have ceased to exist.
The level of gridlock and contentious mouthing issuing from the White House and Capitol Hill has not been witnessed since the eve of the Civil War. As tumultous as that event was in American life, the willingness to do nothing is unmatched by today’s elected leadership in both parties.
While Americans continue to struggle with the economy, and businesses balk at wider expansions and fresh starts in the U.S., Democrats and Republicans behave like hyenas at a fresh kill; not one is willing to let loose of a bone while an ounce of flesh remains to be gnawed. If the leadership of either party believes Americans largely agree with this standoff, they are sadly mistaken and out of touch with the people who inhabit this land.
Political party loyalists have always been a minority. They are the ones who plot and scheme to gain and retain power. Most Americans are objective enough to choose candidates they hope will work for the greater good of the country. The fact that Congress is not the domain of one party is proof that Americans appreciate a reasonable level of political diversity, but not at the cost of sinking the nation.
If just a few key leaders would step outside the confines of their political parties, some great things could happen for the nation. The economy is damaged, not lost.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: Outside the comfort zone
- Editorials
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NARCOG’S chance to shine
The North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments is expected to name a new director in the coming week, a move that should return a sense of direction and stability to the organization.
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Growing pains in Cullman
A proposal to establish an entertainment district in north Cullman, which would have created a venue for live music, was rescinded last week after complaints from residents in the area.
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Bringing back the economy
The economic picture across the United States is beginning to smooth out for many Americans.
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A good job in Vinemont
The town of South Vinemont overnight has become a destination in the world of recreation.
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A time to remember
Those who served, and those who continue to serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard took an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, and we can never forget the importance of their commitment to our Nation
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Taking the lead in education
The once-heralded ‘No Child Left Behind” education initiative from the federal level has just about run out of gas.
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Moving into the future
Hundreds of local high school seniors are accepting their diplomas and preparing to turn the page in the next chapter of their lives.
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Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
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EDITORIAL: The IRS' Turn to Answer Questions
Washington is now sinking its teeth into a real scandal: the Internal Revenue Service using ideological criteria to choose the targets of its attention.
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Editorial: The house of death
The grisly details emerging from the murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion doctor place a glaring spotlight on a national disgrace.
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