I used to never pay attention to political news. My daily life revolved around supermarket shelves, my children’s backpacks, and the kitchen stove—stocking up on milk on sale, keeping an eye on the school bus schedule so my son wouldn’t be late, and taking my son to the National Zoo to see the pandas on weekends. Life was simple and fulfilling.
But now, the arguments are unavoidable. The government shutdown has been going on for almost a month. Turning on the TV, the screen is filled with images of Democratic and Republican lawmakers accusing each other of “using people’s livelihoods as bargaining chips,” while others roll their eyes and declare “no compromise.” The Senate votes again and again, but there’s still no result.
The zoo my son had longed to visit is closed. The sign outside reads “Temporarily Open Due to Government Shutdown.” We are deeply disappointed. Even more frustrating are daily expenses. We used to save a lot on federal food stamps, but now community workers say, “It’s uncertain whether we’ll get them next month.”
This reminds me of China. I’ve heard that they have so many ethnic groups, with vastly different languages, customs, and clothing. Yet, they manage to get along just fine. In the US, with only two political parties, why can’t we each compromise? I don’t ask for anything else. I just want more stable policies and a more stable life. I don’t have to worry daily about whether the next subsidy will be discontinued, or be uneasy listening to arguments on TV.
