Peter Coffman
Dean’s Essay #2
Cohort-B
Let’s
Educate our Politicians
Prerequisites matter. If one were to
sustain an eye injury, he would seek a skilled surgeon, preferably one with
intensive knowledge in ophthalmology. Similarly, defendants in court wish to
have the best prepared, and experienced lawyer represent them. Although many
positions require a specific skill-set in order to succeed, politicians seem to
be an exception. Our current congressmen come from an array of backgrounds but
are able to work together in order to accomplish daunting and challenging
tasks. This diversity brings forth unique bills and ideas, and enables innovative
approaches to various conflicts. What
this diversity has failed to produce in light of recent years is a balanced
budget, and responsible fiscal and monetary policies. Much like other
professions, politicians need a firm understanding of specific areas in order
to succeed. To be eligible to run for a seat in the U.S Congress, candidates
should pass a test proving they understand basic business and economic
principles. This will help ensure that competent politicians, who can budget,
tax, and legislate effectively, are leading America.
A business that fails to effectively
finance its operations sets itself on a path of destruction, and most likely, bankruptcy.
Much like private businesses that must plan accordingly with a limited supply
of capital, Congress also must budget responsibly given its tax revenue. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in
the past decade, as U.S debt has soared, and as a result of the debt ceiling debacle,
Standard & Poor’s downgraded the
United States’s credit rating for the first time in the country’s history
(Klein). This downgrade reflects disapproval with weak American policymaking. In
2012, our government collected roughly $2.5 trillion in tax revenue, while we
spent $3.8 trillion. In fact, the total tax revenue for the U.S in the past
year has not even been enough to finance our entitlement programs, let alone
our military, education, and energy expenditures. Since the turn of the
century, congress has had a reputation for having an uncontrolled addiction of
borrowing money. By 2017, the United States predicts its debt will exceed $21
trillion (Obama).
As our countries debt spirals out of
control, it is essential that we elect congressmen who understand the economic
impact of implemented policies and spending, and are willing to make cuts or
tax hikes in the right places in order to fix this debt crisis. Through standardized testing we can prevent
the hiring of incompetent congressmen, ensuring our politicians run this
country effectively, and not into the ground.
Works
Cited
Klein, Erza. "14 Reasons Why This Is
The Worst Congress Ever." The Washington Post. The Washington Post,
13 July 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/13/13-reasons-why-this-is-the-worst-congress-ever/>.
Obama,
Barack. "The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2013." The White
House. The White House, n.d. Web.
26 Oct. 2012.<http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget>.
