Outrageous!
Why am I so agitated by the shutdown of the federal government of my country? And what does it have to do with what is blocking our movement toward a compassionate civilization?
I know that there are people and organizations of tremendous wealth and religious and ideological fervor who believe that many if not most of the policies and programs of the federal government, and not simply the Affordable Care Act, are wrong and should be eliminated or changed. They feel justified in strangling the federal government and shutting off essential services to citizens. I feel, however, that this is outrageous and harmful and should not be allowed.
What do you think would happen if someone on the city council of New York even tried to shut down all city services? There would be outrage and that person or persons would be dismissed and held accountable. What do you think Exxon’s shareholders, employees and clients would do if someone on the board of directors tried to shut down the company? They would be fired or voted out immediately.
Government is one of the three actors of governance, the other two being civil society and the private sector. Government is necessary for the orderly functioning of a society at every level – local, city, state, national and, increasingly, planetary. It maintains a framework of law, safety and accountability.
It provides essential services of public health, education, communication and transportation, regulations to ensure safe food, drugs, environmental conditions and financial and investment transactions, diplomacy and national defense, a safety net for the elderly and the poor, a common currency, a forum for deliberation and consensus, a symbol of unity, and on and on.
How can it even be contemplated to shut down the federal government that holds 50 states and 300 million people together as one community, provides essential services for citizens and has obligations with countries around the world? Unthinkable.
A compassionate society is governed by the priorities of all of its citizens in order to ensure their happiness and wellbeing and is committed to being a responsible and generous member of the world community.