WS Chronicle

By Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.

All of us have standards and we use them daily. Our family and friends see them in us. Our colleagues at work see them as well. How did we gain these standards of behavior and caring? Our parents were our first role models. Now, we are around people who have different ways of doing business.

We are in a political season where norms of the past are fading fast. For example, there were more programs and funding opportunities. Now funding for them has more limitations and regulations. You can probably name some of them.

The American Dream is still achievable for us despite what is happening in some of our political circles. We are slowed by these changes, yet we keep pushing to gain our share.

Sadly, there are what I call political pharaohs in the United States of America who do not want to see our country be prosperous. It is my thinking that selfishness is ruining our beloved nation. Many of our allies now see us as unfeeling and insensitive.

Bickering and postering by the Republican Party were quite evident during the past month. Factions within the GOP led to the government of the world’s richest country almost shutting down. What have we become?

It was not until what I call the Wilson Pickett hour (midnight hour) that we avoided a shutdown. It would have been disastrous for our Republic.

We are already losing our leadership position according to some polls. Many countries see us now as a country of in-fighting. Plainly stated, our political leaders simply cannot get along with each other. Some would say that spirited debate has turned into mean-spirited debate.

We know the government will remain open for 45 days as the bill to keep it open was signed by President Joe Biden. This comes as both the House and the Senate worked feverishly for something amenable to both parties. The bill did not include funding for Ukraine. Funding for Ukraine has been a fundamental point of disagreement in the House of Representatives. It will continue to be as funding talks continue over the coming weeks.

Speaker McCarthy reportedly backed out of a deal with President Biden to fund Ukraine. Almost 50 other sovereign countries are providing aid to this war-torn country. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are wondering if they can trust Speaker Kevin McCarthy. His lack of integrity is leading him down a rough road. Reports have surfaced that Rep. Matt Gaetz, Republican from Florida, will lead an effort to remove Mr. McCarthy from being the Speaker of the House of Representatives. We will pay close attention to these events.

This last-minute bill that he brokered with the help of Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, has ruffled the feathers of hardliners within the Republican Party. Many believe that Speaker McCarthy essentially caved into the pressure of the moment. However, he said late last week that he was willing to give up his leadership role if that would keep the government from not closing.

The American people with this bill passing saw a clear example of what bi-partisan politics and support looks like. The result was obviously that a temporary spending bill was passed.

President Joe Biden said, “I’m sick and tired of the brinkmanship. So are the American people.” 

He is correct. We the people want to see action and not delay tactics by a small group of naysayers.

Looking ahead and down the tenuous road of compromise, Nov. 17 will be the deadline to keep the government open. It must be all hands on deck, both Democrats and Republicans. 

Let’s hope that cooler heads will prevail and that we don’t wait until the very last minute to create a new spending bill.

James B. Ewers Jr., Ed.D., is a former tennis champion at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem and played college tennis at Johnson C. Smith University, where he was all-conference for four years. He is a retired college administrator. He can be reached at overtimefergie.2020@yahoo.com.