Why does every politician say he or she is going to Washington to fix America’s problems? It’s like a broken record, and I’m tired of hearing the same thing over and over again.
There are some politicians who might actually have every intention of doing the right thing for America but get sucked into the “big money machines,” who are the corporations. In other words, politicians often become the puppets of big corporations. Constituents elect politicians, not the corporations. Sometimes I think they forget who got them elected in the first place.
One glaring problem I currently see with politicians is their inability to do what’s best for the American people, regardless of what the special interests of the corporations want. Politicians are seemingly more interested in getting more of their party’s individuals elected than really solving the issues.
There is a federal budget that needs to be taken care of, and Congress is failing at one of its biggest, yet seemingly unimportant, duties of making sure money is appropriated properly. Congress is not taking up the budget issue which is already past due. The fiscal year for the federal government started on Oct. 1, but politicians would much rather wait until the lame duck session than bear the brunt of an unpopular vote.
That’s a lack of transparency.  Being transparent is something virtually all politicians promise as they vie for a seat in Congress. I’m a firm believer things need to be done as they are supposed to and not postponed for political convenience.
The Bush tax cuts are set to expire at the end of this year, and if Congress doesn’t act, they will go away. The tax cuts were passed back in the early part of the Bush Administration. Many Democrats want to let the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans, while letting them roll on for the rest of the taxpayers.
Some of the more conservative Democrats have run away from this position for political expediency. President Obama has repeatedly said he wants to give tax cuts to all Americans who make $250,000 or less. Why not vote on it now? He also has said the Republicans want to hold tax cuts for the middle class “hostage.” 
John Boehner, House Republican leader, has said he would vote for the middle-class tax cuts if he has no other option. Obviously, they want to wait for a vote because it will look like the Democrats didn’t get things done. The Republicans’ general position is they want to extend the Bush tax cuts for all taxpayers.
I personally think that the wealthiest Americans can do without the tax cuts. Why? They already have a lot of money. I am not an advocate of taking away rich people’s money. However, I am for letting the middle class keep more of its money. In this economic downturn, Congress has to make tough decisions. And with tough decisions, there will be some people who aren’t going to be satisfied. Regardless of the outcome that happens during the lame duck session in regard to the pending budget, it just proves that politicians are more interested in being re-elected and not serving the people who elected them.
My whole point is that if the Democrats knew they were right on the tax issue (which is much of what the whole budget debate is about), then they would debate it and put it up for a vote. If the Republicans knew they were right on the budget issue (even though they are not in power), then they would repeatedly ask for a vote. Both sides have something to gain for the postponement of this critical task, but neither side is willing to stand up for what they believe in, even if it means getting fired as a result of the voters’ backlash in the November elections.
Christopher Webb is a senior majoring in industrial engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected]