Spending Plan Implemented Early Enough to Provide Spending for an Astounding 5 Months of the Year

Congress finally passed a financial spending plan for the fiscal year of 2011 on Thursday. This comes after seven months of deliberation and several near shutdowns of the government. A compromise between the Democrats, against spending cuts, and Republicans, insisting on cuts of over $60 billion, resulted in a plan that cuts $38 billion from spending.

However, there are only about 5 months left to implement this plan: The bill only covers spending until September 30th, this year.

The conservative House and liberal Senate are the cause for the long appropriations process. Unable to come to a decision, the two sides refused to compromise and instead suggested ideas that they had to have known couldn't be agreed on, such as the Republican proposal to cut $61 billion, mostly targeting social programs that Democrats would never agree to lower funding, while ignoring things such as subsidies to oil companies. It was irresponsible of both parties to not suggest reasonable proposals, and as a consequence the American public suffered as we continued on previous spending plans when we could make small spending cuts to steamline costs over a longer period of time. Now, we can only benefit from 5 months of these cuts.

I think the American public is becomes disillusioned with both parties - the slow progress of the economy has crippled the support behind the Obama administration at its beginning. If things continue as they are now, this will make for a very close race in 2012 for the presidency. There have not been huge strides under Obama, but the collapse happened under Republican rule and many may not feel confident placing power back with the GOP.

I think if Democrats want to win support, they need to implement plans that will make definite changes for the current crisis. If Republicans want to prove they know what is best for the government, they should stick with the less extreme proposals. If their cuts are successful for economical regeneration, they could probably gain more support and momentum. As it is, many citizens are beginning to think neither party has an answer to the current dilemma.