Left-Right Politics - Deadlocked Policies

Where exactly is the middle ground? Is it possible to ever find it? In our political system, we have two sides in a constant dispute over the best policy for the American people. The Left argues with the Right, the Conservatives dispute with the Liberals, and Republicans and Democrats always seem to out-rule the other in various situations and the continued argument of what is the best system to follow is as useless as an argument debating who the best president was, Kennedy or Reagan? So it seems that the whole political spectrum is based on who will end up on top, the Blue Team or the Red Team.

The latest pressing debate that was undertaken between the dueling parties ultimately threatened a shutdown of the US government. In the first week of April, the Democrats and the Republicans were in a bitter struggle over the passing of the budget deal, which dictates the spending of the government for the next fiscal year. With an April 8th midnight deadline, we saw both sides play the blame game. Republicans disputed that it was strictly a spending dispute, while democrats argued that Republicans were against funding health centers that provided abortion, like Planned Parenthood. Luckily with under an hour left to the deadline, both sides ultimately reached an agreement of $38 billion in spending cuts.

Just as the budget deal was difficult to settle, other issues are constantly up for debate. It makes one ponder what exactly the goal of these political parties are. Are they out to actually carry out legislation, or is each side more concerned about adhering to what their respective parties want?

It's hard to generalize what each party stands for, but ultimately they all fall exactly opposite in several issues. Legislation is implemented concerning a vast amount of issues but a person could possibly boil it down to two of the most concerning issues being economically and socially based policies. Economically, republicans strive for low spending, more tax cuts, and a smaller less involved government. While democrats are more willing to spend money, are less restrained when imposing taxes and are more lenient in being involved. Socially, republicans are more likely to adhere to traditional values, and conserve society to little change. Democrats however are more willing to change the social spectrum and follow with the changing of the times.

When it comes down to it, by the grace that makes America great, every four years we are allowed to choose which way the country should go.

It's difficult to understand how people are so easily convinced that their candidate is the person for the job. So convinced, that they must go and see them and cheer for them, as if they were rock stars. As if every word out if their mouths were coming from the mouth of God himself. Something that can currently be seen with the current Tea Party Movement at their rallies, which can only in a way, be seen as a farce, and away for other people to jump on a bandwagon. As if there weren't already any other horrible parties to root for. Unfortunately we might even see a similar movement adhere to the liberal demographic eventually.

But ultimately as stated before we must choose, discouraged by the constant bitter arguing of both parties, it's difficult to do so. One says this is right, while the other says this is right, how would we, the minions, ever decide who's telling the truth. There must be better way, can we ever see a candidate with common sense ever stand up and say, "Hey, wait a minute, those policies are good for this current situation we can go left, and in this situation we must go right!"

Can we ever decide, obviously we can, and it's the undecided voters that make the biggest impact during an election year. We are a country of people from different walks of life. Not all policies are going to adhere to everyone, but we must expect our policy makers not to fight for the good of the party, which seems to be the preferred method, but the good of the people. The most important thing we should expect from our policy makers is to get the job done, and get it done right – not leaving us in a constant state of deadlock hoping the right people are choosing our policies.