How the Government Shutdown Typifies the Real Problems With Our Country

First and foremost, this is my opinion. Feel free to disagree or agree, that's your right.

You know what else is your right? Well, you have the right to elect lawmakers who are sworn to have your best interests in mind when they head to Washington. The problem with this government shutdown is that it's simply not in anyone's best interest.

If you're looking to find out how you'll be impacted by this shutdown, it won't be here, but I do highly recommend you check this out. If you really need to know, it's not a huge impact unless you're a government employee or on the road visiting national landmarks or parks. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that this is a debacle of epic proportions.

Lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, are currently doing two things amid this shutdown that really show Washington's core dysfunctions. So, what are they?

1)  The Blame Game

This shutdown is highlighting the fact that Republicans and Democrats simply cannot work together. It's not as if we, Americans, didn't know we were in danger of running out of money. It's not as if we couldn't have spent the past year working together to come up with a reasonable solution to avoid such a catastrophe. And while the majority of Americans may blame one party or the other, it's both parties who are completely to blame. So I ask you, what kind of world do we live in that the people we trust to run our country can't work together in the best interest of the masses?

2)  Covering Their Own A$$es

If you think for a second that Republicans and Democrats aren't choosing their sides to put themselves in the best possible position for future elections... you're dead wrong! You see, that's the second biggest problem in Washington. Lawmakers care so much about keeping their jobs and moving up the political ladder that they so quickly forget who they work for. You (lawmakers) work for the people who elected you, and as I stated earlier, a government shutdown is not in the best interest of those who elected you. So I ask you another question, why should any of these clowns be reelected? Shouldn't this country be run by people who believe they have an obligation to the people they represent?

So there you have it. My opinion on why this shutdown highlights what's really wrong with this country. Let the comments fly!