Adversity in the land of the flag

Patients are waiting to die without treatment because hospitals are closed, the presidential office phone is also locked, the country's security and economy may be in danger, while Washington's allies may also be affected... The United States is facing more and more adversity as the partial government shutdown has entered its fourth day with no sign that the federal budget issue will be resolved.

Americans protest against the government shutdown. Photo: AP

Since the order to close a part of the government agencies was implemented, the operation at an important place like President B. Obama's office has been almost paralyzed because all phone calls here have been unsuccessful. The reporter of the "New York Times" tried to call the White House but only received an automated voice message: "Hello, you have called the president's office. We apologize, but due to the delay in the federal budget, we are unable to take your call. Once the budget is restored, our operations will resume. Please call back at that time." This is probably also the general "announcement" of all the agencies that are currently "sitting and doing nothing" in the US to explain this ironic situation.

President Obama even had to postpone his trip to Asia because he did not have the budget for the trip. Of course, he will not be able to attend two important upcoming conferences, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Indonesia and the ASEAN Summit in Brunei - where the US can assert its voice, role and interests in the region. In this "powerless" situation, some analysts commented that "the US's pivot to Asia policy is running out of steam". In addition, the US State Department also warned that a long-term government shutdown could delay military aid to US allies, including strategic ally Israel in the Middle East.

Thus, it seems that the consequences of the government shutdown do not stop at the economic and social aspects, because it not only affects domestic issues but also significantly affects Washington's foreign policy priorities.

In the country, the most direct victims are probably patients being treated in public hospitals that were forced to close, like Michelle Langbehn, 30, who has been undergoing treatment for a long-term terminal cancer. While the terrible disease continues to spread and torment her body, doctors were forced to stop clinical trials of a new drug for her because the hospital closed. There are about 200 more cancer patients like Langbehn at the NIH hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, who are suffering the same tragedy as her, including babies.

Regarding the threat to national security, James Clapper, Director of the US National Intelligence Agency, said that this is a golden opportunity for terrorists and foreign spies to infiltrate the US. Because currently, 70% of US spies and intelligence analysts have had to quit their jobs. The Director of the US National Intelligence Agency also said that this is an opportunity for foreign intelligence agencies that are looking to recruit spies in the US. He is concerned that America's enemies can recruit spies more easily from among US employees who are laid off and facing financial challenges. Because job loss and loss of income can make some US intelligence officers vulnerable to being swayed and bribed, as well as accepting bribes.

The risk to the economy is even more evident as more warnings of disaster if the US defaults. The partial government shutdown has pushed the US closer to the “brink” of default. In order to push Congress to approve an increase in the national debt ceiling, the US Treasury Department has released a new study highlighting the negative effects on the macro economy, pushing the country into the worst recession since the Great Depression. The bigger consequence is creating a negative spillover effect affecting the global economy, leading to a financial crisis and global economic recession like the one in 2008, or even worse.

However, the obvious consequences do not seem to shake the "will" of the two political factions in the US, the Republicans and Democrats, with many contradictions expressed through the "fierce battles" between the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress. Since the shutdown, on October 3, President B. Obama for the first time convened the top leaders of the two parties in Congress to negotiate and find a solution to the deadlock. However, neither side has made any concessions to reopen the closed offices. The analysis that "the US government shutdown is the result of partisan interest calculations to win over voters" seems to be correct. The Democrats know very well that the government shutdown due to pressure from the Republicans could benefit them.

The current state of the United States can be considered the culmination of the conflicts between the two political factions in the United States and shows that the United States is in an escalating political crisis as President B. Obama admitted. Obviously, the US government shutdown is not only an administrative paralysis but also reflects a larger instability in the United States.

In the same context, in the land of the "flag and flag", a paradox appeared when a series of American congressmen refused to receive their salaries or declared that they would use their salaries for charity during the government shutdown, because they felt ashamed and unworthy in the current context.

It would be understandable if the above action was to express repentance or remedy the consequences because they were the ones who created the current adversity for the country when they cast the decisive votes at Cap-piton Hill. But it is really difficult to understand when looking at the reason for refusing to receive salary of Senator Ami Bera: "Congress must be exemplary and put people before politics... If Congress cannot do its job and put the American people first, they certainly cannot be paid during the crisis they themselves caused." Notably, this senator also called for "we must start acting like adults, forcing Washington to work to serve the people again." I wonder if before casting the decisive votes at Cap-piton Hill causing the current consequences for the United States, did the American senators think about the people and the country like that?

According to QĐND - DT