By Ben Jenkins, Newswire Intern

The latest government shutdown is not a simple disagreement of funding, but rather the Trump Administration putting personal politics over the wellbeing of the nation. 

Government shutdowns are not new, but the latest shutdown is different. 

Republicans wanted to include a major cut to the Affordable Healthcare Act, which could give Americans up to a 114% increase in healthcare costs. When Democrats refused, Republicans gave no effort to negotiate, yet the rhetoric coming from the administration is that the Democrats shut down the government. 

The fact of the matter is Republicans control the House, Senate and the presidency. There is no one to blame for the shutdown but themselves.

Now because of Republicans inability to compromise, hundreds of thousands of government workers are without pay, or simply not working. These workers are the backbone of the country, from air traffic controllers to public health administrators, the U.S. needs these workers to thrive. Many of these workers are being forced to work without pay or not working at all. The effects of this are already being felt by many Americans. 

Travelers have been left with canceled and delayed flights due to a lack of air traffic controllers. Families that rely on Social Security or unemployment benefits are seeing delays in payment. The shutdown does not just affect government workers, it hurts millions of Americans, and more and more people will face the consequences of the incompetence of the government.

Aside from the countless  problems the shutdown causes for Americans, it exposes a larger problem in the country. The U.S. is more divided than it has ever been. 

Government officials are more focused on winning partisan arguments than helping the American people. Compromise has always been a pillar of government and it has now become a rare sight. This has led to the government to be in a state where it can barely function. 

Disagreements are a part of government; however, they should be able to be handled. They should be negotiated and settled in a timely manner, but this administration uses them to point fingers and further divide the country. The result of this is not just a delayed funding bill, it is a country who is divided and frustrated. We, as Americans, are watching our leaders choose their own agendas over the citizens.

This shutdown sheds light to why the second Trump administration has been a failure. Instead of using their leadership positions to resolve disputes, the administration uses them to demonize their political opponents. 

Government services are being halted not because the problems are not solvable, but because compromise is seen as weakness by the Republicans. They can not let the Democrats have a single win. That is not the way the government should be handling issues. 

There are going to be disagreements, there will never be a time when everything is agreed on – that is ok. They are needed to make change.

Americans deserve a leader who puts the people of the country before of their own personal battles. This shutdown is a perfect example of what happens under poor leadership. We are paying the price for leaders who care more about themselves and their beliefs than about the success of this country.