GOP spending cuts - What is actually going on?

Textbooks “see our policies as part of a morality play in which the United States typically acts on behalf of human rights, democracy, and “the American way” (Loewen221).” Unfortunately, not only do textbooks sugar coat the United States government actions and policies, so does Obama and the media that present him.

Currently, there is a list of 70 proposed spending cuts, which are being proposed against Obama’s 2011 budget requests. The GOP is targeting many government programs in order to eliminate “un-necessary” spending and thus benefit taxpayers. One of which is the shutdown of state parks. However, there are two sides of this debate (Republicans vs. Democrats), which entails two different priorities, which then forces citizens to not be neutral and choose a side. But, how are we, as citizens supposed to take a position when we aren’t even told the complete truth of the conflict and discussions?

“Often presidents and their advisors keep actions covert….because they suspect the actions would not be popular with Congress or with the American people (234).” This became clear when I was researching about GOP spending cuts online. I found two articles: one who is written by Larry Kudlow from the National review, and the other written by Chad Pergram from Fox news. Some quotes that stuck out to me were….

Pergram - “there’s a lot of message and not a lot of substance…but that important investments must be protected so America can win the future”

Kudlow – “This kind of budget rule is essential to any deal. The GOP should not settle for anything less…this is the upshot of last fall’s elections”

In both of these popular news articles, neither one of them directly tells the public who the influential people were in constructing this policy, doesn’t citizen the government. Also, all of the issues that are raised are justified by being needed in order to create a nation that offers the dreams of the people. They both discussed the topic in a very shallow manner, with vague statements, which in turn limits citizens of their knowledge concerning the budget cuts.

According to Bailey and Kennedy, “it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures” which would mystify any apparent tensions. This claim that president Truman made promised unlimited support to anyone that needed, which later got him into trouble. Just like any other official in a crisis, Truman made this commitment to the people in order to avoid conflict, maintain his representation, and to maintain the peoples life dreams. The GOP doesn’t illustrate to the public what the processes are or what the government is doing, all that is said is that it is necessary in order to maintain the representation of being the “international good guy.”