The inability for the President and Congress to sit down at
a negotiating table and produce some productive measures to satisfy all
political factions is disgraceful. All
voters regardless of party, should be angry with their elected officials.
This failure to compromise is hurting the taxpayer and
government employee on a daily basis.
People aren't paid and government services cannot be fulfilled.
With living near Gettysburg, one can really feel the
pain. Tourists have been deprived of
visiting the battlefield and national cemetery.
Licensed guides suddenly have lost income overnight due to the inability
to guide anywhere with the closure of federal property. Locally businesses are losing income everyday
as tourism spirals downward.
The real shame is that all of this could have been prevented
regardless if there was a government shutdown or not. The Executive Department (i.e. President
Obama) made a political calculus on how to address the government slowdown and
decided on closure in order to hurt the public the most. This has been confirmed by at least one federal
park ranger and the actions of the Department of Interior which have adversely affected private commerce near the federal parks.
In the instance of Gettysburg, the Visitor's Center is open
because it is run by a private non-profit organization. There is a minimal federal staff present in
law enforcement and maintenance.
The point is President Obama could have allowed the public
to walk and visit their OWN property but he decided not to. He decided to take the "pour the salt in
the wound" approach to remedy a political imbroglio of his own making.
The biggest shame is not economic nor service related, it is
that patriotism, thanksgiving, appreciation, remembrance, thankfulness and
respect for American sacrifice has taken the largest and most painful hit. And to think, this avenue of political vengeance
has been ordered by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United
States.
Until further notice,
we cannot contemplatively stroll the National Cemetery or amble the
hallowed ground of the Military Park until this present president changes his
mind.
That is a vile shame and a repugnant disgrace.
