Dean's Essay #2

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>.