I’m fed up with Washington’s endless dysfunction. Every single year, Congress fails at one of its most basic responsibilities: funding the government. Instead of doing their jobs, lawmakers from both parties hide behind something called a “continuing resolution” – a short-term patch that keeps the lights on just long enough for them to argue some more.
Now they’ve blown it again. Democrats and Republicans are on TV blaming each other, but the truth is simple: both parties are guilty. Both built this mess. Both have turned budget deadlines into political theater instead of governing.
A continuing resolution was meant to be a rare stopgap. Today, it’s Congress’s favorite crutch. They wait until the last minute, stage dramatic fights for the cameras, then paper over their failure with another temporary fix. Meanwhile, Americans pay the price.
When Washington can’t agree, federal workers face uncertainty about paychecks. Small businesses and contractors can’t plan. Local programs – schools, veteran clinics, infrastructure projects – are left twisting in the wind. These aren’t abstract policy debates; they hurt real people.
It’s not an occasional problem – it’s a habit. According to the Pew Research Center, Congress hasn’t passed all regular spending bills on time in most of the past 15 years. That’s not leadership. That’s neglect.
Republicans promise to cut waste, yet every year they wait until the last minute to pass a budget. Democrats claim to defend the vulnerable – but their shutdown threats hurt the people they say they protect.
Both parties love to pretend they’re the adults in the room. Yet every year, both sides play chicken with the country’s stability for political leverage. They use shutdown threats not as negotiation tools, but as campaign weapons.
They’ve both done it. They’ve both cashed their paychecks while government workers wait for theirs. They’ve both traded responsibility for headlines.
Washington is addicted to failure. Neither side governs – they posture. And while they waste time scoring points, the rest of us lose faith.
Here’s a radical idea: If Congress can’t pass a real budget by the deadline, their salary should be permanently reduced by a percentage for every day they miss the deadline. Maybe if their own wallets felt the heat, they’d finally act like public servants instead of partisan opportunists. Teachers, police officers, and factory workers don’t get to skip work and still collect checks. Why should Congress? Accountability shouldn’t stop at the Capitol steps.
The continuing resolution is more than a bureaucratic tool – it’s a symbol of everything broken in Washington. It rewards procrastination, avoids real sacrifice, and punishes leadership. Every election cycle, candidates swear they’ll “fix Washington.” Then they get there – and become the problem.
If any of us failed this consistently at our job, we’d be fired. But in Congress, incompetence gets rewarded with re-election.
Here’s what must change:
• Pass full budgets on time – no excuses, no gimmicks.
• End the games – stop using shutdown threats as political blackmail.
• Level with the public – the government must live within its means.
• Put citizens first – not parties, donors, or media narratives.
• Enforce accountability – no work, permanent pay reduction for missing deadlines.
It’s time for both parties to stop pretending they care about solutions while sabotaging them for political gain. America doesn’t need more speeches or blame games. It needs leadership – the kind that shows up, does the work, and remembers who it’s supposed to serve.
So to every member of Congress: the excuses are over. Stop finger-pointing. Stop stalling. Stop kicking the can. The country is watching – and we’re done waiting for you to grow up.
And honestly, since Congress rarely passes annual appropriations bills on time, maybe it’s time to outsource the job to AI. At least the algorithms meet their deadlines.
To contact KCarl, request a speaking engagement, or find books, resources, and more, visit the Frederick Douglass Republican Store.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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