As I write this, the federal government has been shut down for 28 days. That’s four full weeks during which hundreds of thousands of federal employees have gone without a paycheck—a full month without income for families who depend on it. Imagine if your own paycheck stopped for that long. For many Americans, it would mean missed mortgage payments, empty refrigerators, and mounting anxiety. The economic ripple effects stretch beyond paychecks, halting everything from small-business contracts to USDA home loans, leaving would-be homebuyers stuck in limbo.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the people responsible for this gridlock—our so-called professional politicians—continue their daily routines largely unaffected. After a day of partisan bickering over the budget, they return to comfortable apartments, warm showers, and dinners on expense accounts. They don’t face overdue utility bills or maxed-out credit cards. Yet their stalemate has real consequences for millions of families who live paycheck to paycheck.
What’s most troubling is how the debate has devolved entirely along party lines. As a former elected official in this state, I find that deeply frustrating. I didn’t always agree with my colleagues—liberal or conservative—but we found middle ground because that’s what responsible governance demands. It seems Washington has forgotten that lesson. The purpose of public service is to serve the public, not a political party.
It’s hard not to conclude that the driving force behind many votes on Capitol Hill isn’t conviction, but re-election and campaign funding. Those who “rock the boat” risk losing party support, while those who toe the line are rewarded with money and media backing. This culture of political self-preservation is eroding the very foundation of our Republic.
Perhaps it’s time to revisit term limits for members of Congress. Most states and local governments already have them, and for good reason. Fresh leadership brings new ideas and reduces the kind of entrenched power that leads to the paralysis we’re witnessing now.
Our nation was founded as an elected republic, not a perpetual political class. We send representatives to Washington to think independently, deliberate fairly, and vote in the best interests of the people—not to act as loyal soldiers in partisan warfare.
The Catholic Church offers a model when it is time to elect a new pope. The instructions are clear and binding. The gravity and importance of this task is for the people, so personal agendas are set aside for one goal. When it comes time to elect a new Pope, Cardinals are sequestered in the Vatican until they reach consensus. Those over 80 years old may attend the conclave but cannot vote—a recognition that leadership requires both wisdom and the ability to adapt to the moment. In Congress today, there are roughly 20 members over 80 years old. Imagine if they, too, were barred from voting until a compromise was reached—how quickly might a budget emerge?
If America’s great corporations ran their boards the way Congress runs its business, those companies would have gone bankrupt long ago. It’s time for change—real change—on both sides of the aisle. Our economy, our families, and our democracy deserve better than this endless cycle of dysfunction.
DC Aiken is Senior Vice President of Lending for CrossCountry Mortgage, NMLS # 658790. For more insights, you can subscribe to his newsletter at dcaiken.com.
The opinions expressed within this article may not reflect the opinions or views of CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC or its affiliates.