The news these past couple of days has been an embarrassment to American politics.
On Monday, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner addressed the nation regarding the debt ceiling debate and made it very clear what this "crisis" is all about.
Boehner delivered a speech that sounded more like an angry, childish rant than an address presenting his views on a serious issue that is out of the hands of ordinary Americans.
Boehner's speech repeatedly attacked Obama in a pathetic attempt to weaken support for the president.
Among Boehner's profoundly insight remarks was the comment that the stimulus bill "was more effective in producing material for late-night comedians than it was in producing jobs."
Really? This is what Americans want to hear during the few minutes we are allowed into the discussions in Washington? Americans want to hear slights to other politicians disguised at "facts" - facts with no empirical basis? Is this kindergarten? Boehner went on to claim that the national debt "has gotten so out of hand it has sparked a crisis without precedent in my lifetime or yours."
Let's take a look at recent history, Mr. Boehner. The contention surrounding the debt ceiling makes it seem that Obama is the first president in American history to raise it. Well, that's not the case.
Under President George W. Bush, the debt ceiling was raised seven times. Under President Ronald Reagan it was hiked up 18 times.So what gives?
What gives is a group of crooks working for special interests masquerading as politicians.
These crooks promise loyalty to the wealthy Americans who finance their campaigns. Once in office, they maintain that loyalty. The result is the current situation, where working class Americans get shafted and Wall Street stays protected.
The GOP does not even attempt to hide its loyalty anymore. Special interest influence becomes painfully obvious when Boehner refuses to support Obama's plan that cuts trillions in spending, but - gasp - raises revenue from big business.
Investing in his future elections, Boehner instead wants to cut "entitlement programs." Yes, he calls them "entitlement programs" - the programs that provide some sense of livelihood to working-class Americans while they work until they die.
Republicans have lost all sense of direction in Washington. They are working for themselves, not for the United States. All Americans know that our debt is out of hand, and Democrats have brought forth more than reasonable legislation to cut spending and bring in more revenue.
The "crisis" at hand isn't scary. In fact, it's not even real. The current situation is not a result of overspending. It's not a result of anything tangible.
The crisis is the result of a group of people - people that we pay to serve the United States - sitting around, looking angry for cameras and refusing to negotiate. This entire situation is created by the blockage of the debt ceiling increase. It's just another manufactured Washington issue.
Of course, that's not to say that overspending is not a problem. Both parties are working to lower the debt by proposing balanced budget plans. But Democratic plans that cut spending more than Republican plans are still not good enough for Republicans.
We should not allow House Republicans to continue the games they are playing. Threatening to devastate the economy if selfish demands aren't met is so childish that it is evades logical comprehension - but that is essentially what Republicans are doing.
Abdul Zalikha is a microbiology junior at UF. His column appears on Thursdays.
