By: Alex Mueller
Money money money. It’s the trendy thing these days, but when isn’t it? It supports our wants, our needs, and it pays for our clothes, food, drinks, fun, and some might even say it pays for their happiness. Psychologically, much of society may need a reality check. A couple weeks ago, it was announced that several sectors of the government have officially shut down due to a disagreement in congress, and the further debt we are falling into. In other words, the government has a goal that is failing to be met. Conversation within the congress room were to come to a consensus regarding the raise of the federal debt ceiling. However, failure to do so resulted in the shutdown. So what does that mean, and what happens if we don’t make a decision? Here is a short video to increase the understanding of how this all fell apart over the years, and what’s in it for us now.
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The Now
This month, the government is to come to a consensus and a final decision as to whether the federal debt ceiling will be raised or not. If not, many benefits may stop. The result of that will put many low-income and unemployed individuals into a crisis, as they will have to start paying their bills. Furthermore, many benefits that these people are receiving will be delayed, or even omitted for a period of time.
The Future
Those who are receiving unemployment checks, expecting food stamps to be distributed, or receiving a Social Security check, who knows how long that will last anymore? So far, it is expected that these benefits will be delayed due to the fact that the government has shut down, as Social Security checks and food stamps have already been postponed four days out from their initial distribution dates this month. Bipartisan Policy Center, who does a lot of detailed analysis of finances, say that veterans benefits are due November 1st, but may be pushed back about two weeks. However, the situation will only get worse from there if the government doesn’t make the decision in the matter of a couple of days. Obama’s administration has yet to decide how bad it is going to get. Not only that, it has also been announced that a couple major parts of the government that are still open, may not be able to operate too much longer due to insufficient funds.
Some questions are answered about the potential future of our economy, but there are still some left. How much risk are unemployed individuals facing? There isn’t much time to take advantage of this sort of thing anymore, as in the future it may be required to have a job in order to make it by. Money is becoming more scarce by the second and it is becoming less and less possible to sustain the population to satisfy wants and needs. Also, years and years from now when we grow older, what will the status of Social Security be? Existing or non-existing? Looking at the rate of our economy right now and the debt ceiling not being touched, its existence is at some sort of risk for our future. There isn’t much certainty at the moment; however America may end as we know it, and life-altering decisions and sacrifices will have to be made.
Based off of the events that has happened over the past couple of weeks, there is a doubt in the availability of these benefits. If these benefits were going to “disappear” in the future, there would need to be a reliable and less expensive alternative due to the fact that people depend on these specific benefits for their lively hood.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very interesting that the government just simply shut down when they couldn't come to an agreement. I agree, I think these benefits are very important for the people who receive them, for some people serving as their lifeline, keeping them alive.This could be done by cutting other parts of the budget that aren't quite as essential for people to live. Without unemployment checks and food stamps, some families would struggle tremendously. Something needs to be done fast to help save these programs, and bring the government back together.
ReplyDeleteBased off of our government's status at the moment, I think that the unemployed are going to going burrow deeper and deeper into a hole. The benefits that they are receiving will eventually disappear due to the face that the government just can't fund them anymore. At this rate, the low-income families will be losing their benefits and eventually it will creep up into the middle class, etc. At this rate, I am very scared for what the future has in store.
ReplyDeleteThe government stopped working much like girls stop talking to each other during a conflict. It doesn't seem right that a huge part of our country can just stop working when they can't agree on how to spend imaginary money that they don't have. And their solution? Raise the debt ceiling so that it might happen all over again in February.
ReplyDeleteThe shutdown and delay of welfare payments might scare some of the unemployed into getting a job so in case the government does shutdown for a period of more than a few weeks they will have an income.
I have to agree with Josh. It just doesn't seem right that the government is allowed to shut down and talk about their "imaginary money". The shutdown is a wake up call for those that are unemployed. Government benefits and welfare that are distributed to the lower class Americans has become too much of a "complete" source of income for many people. Hopefully this government shutdown will straighten things up.
ReplyDelete