This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It is increasingly obvious that the people we have selected to govern our country are not capable of putting their own petty agendas aside for the benefit of us who elected them. Even the mention of a government default shouldn't be acceptable, and here we are at risk of it actually happening. And the real tragedy is that even though we will probably dodge the bullet after they finally get forced into the necessary concessions at the last minute, the problem won't be solved and the cost of this fiasco and the embarrassment of our country failing to live up to its obligation is already an established fact.
Although it may be naïve, the solution to this atrocity seems very simple. When the issues are tied to a default and the powers that be cannot rise above their own selfish interests and make desired changes before the deadline, everything would automatically reset as it was before the deadline, and the government can proceed and maintain the status quo.
This way, the only thing lost is the politicians' opportunity to change the issues and the government would proceed as it has without the serious consequences we are currently experiencing.
Jerry E. Shepherd
West Valley City