Government Shutdown -- Effects on Urban America

On Day 10 of the United States Government shutdown -- President Obama urges Congress to take action to help 700+ children in a Head Start program in Florida who are denied access to educational services due to employee furloughs tied to the lapse in government funding.  In case you are unfamiliar, a Head Start program is "a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children birth to 5 from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development." (Source: Administration for Children & Families)   Many affected parents reportedly are forced to scramble to find alternate child care in lieu of the closings -- totaling a whopping 23 Head Start programs in 11 states.  The irony of it all?  Many of the Republicans who are stubbornly resisting the enactment of President Obama's healthcare bill claiming its potential negative impacts on our nation's debt, the financial crisis and the overall economy -- are not even paying attention to how this directly effects our economy as parents' jobs are at stake with no back-up child care arrangements available.  Meanwhile, other conservatives have been cited as balking at monument closings and other trivial matters.

Here's a story done by Fox News Los Angeles -- (Click picture to watch news footage)

 (Source: Fox News)

Do our elected officials really care about the domino effect of their actions, "holding hostage" the government for some political ploy?  The National Urban League's Mark Morial released this statement in late September concerning the "irresponsible nature" of the politicians using Obama's bill as a "political football to shutdown the government" and that we must be reminded that the health care bill is "good for the nation overall."

This historic milestone in our nation's story is one for the books.  It is a gentle reminder to all citizens to make their voices heard in not only the national election but more importantly, the local and regional levels as well.  As politicians claim to represent the interests of their respective district's citizens, they must be held accountable to all when issues such as this are brought to the forefront.  How can we as citizens get our conservative elected officials to connect the demise of our economy short term to lasting negative effects on our nation long-term?