Hey Congress, Grow Up!
The United States Senate, tasked with representing the needs of nearly 340 million citizens battling inflation, a cost-of-living crisis, and a crumbling healthcare system, remains as immaturely distracted as ever. This behaviour is not just a matter of childish nonsense fuelling sensationalized media coverage; it is a symptom of a deeper problem that threatens the fabric of American democracy and national security.
Visual Credit: Joshua Sukoff
In spite of staggering statistics, with 27.5 million Americans lacking health insurance, homelessness on a steady incline, 37.9 million families living below the poverty line, and hateful rhetoric running rampant, the country’s elected representatives frequently engage in partisan bickering and juvenile conduct. Republicans and Democrats alike continually display publicized jaw-dropping behaviour on the House floor. These politicians act unbecoming in official capacities, making a domestic and international mockery of American judicial and political processes while undermining institutional integrity.
Instances like former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy being booed and heckled on the House floor, Republican senators’ attempts to incite physical confrontations, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene using disgraceful expletives to describe fellow representatives, and Representative Steve Cohen bringing a bucket of fried chicken to a judiciary hearing may generate enticing headlines, but their consequences are so much more profound than mere sensationalism.
At the heart of this problems lies the divisive two-party system and the partisan party polarization that has plagued America for years. The level of animosity and distrust between Republican and Democratic voters has reached new heights, both sides viewing their counterparts as “closed-minded, dishonest, immoral, and unintelligent.” The aftershock of Donald Trump’s presidency, in particular, is considered by many as a catalyst that has driven a wedge between the two major political ideologies, creating an irreversible seismic shift in culture and faith in America.
This increasing polarization and immaturity in the United States Senate have severe ramifications for national security. A divided and distracted Senate is less likely to address critical issues threatening the wellbeing of American citizens. National security is not limited to military might alone; it encompasses the generalized stability of the entire nation. When Senate fails to address pressing concerns due to partisan gridlock, it weakens the state in domestic and global ranges. A divided Senate sends a message to the world that America is incapable of effectively governing itself and addressing its own challenges, thus eroding its standing as a firmly-rooted global leader.
Furthermore, the inability of the Senate to work unanimously to find common ground undermines its very values of democracy. In theory, the American electoral system was designed to foster compromise and collaboration, but the current state of the Senate’s functioning renders it nearly dysfunctional. When elected officials prioritize party loyalty over the genuine needs of constituents, it dissolves citizens’ trust and faith in government.
In order to make headway on this issue, it is imperative that the Senate rises above its current behavioural state. At their core, these Senators serve the American public, not one of two political parties. Bipartisan cooperation and a focus on solving the nation’s most pressing problems are critical for this elected body’s functioning. Through unity, mature discussion, and a realization of ‘the bigger picture,’ the United States Senate can truly fulfill its role as the representative body of the American people. Until then, the consequences of inaction and indecisiveness will continue to undermine the state’s integrity and jeopardize national security.
Cordelia (she/her) is a third-year Political Studies student and one of Political Digest’s Editors-in-Chief.
