Another unsurprising failure in D.C.

Economic strength comes from a functional democracy. But when that democracy fails to act in the best interests of the people, we can expect chaos. Look at Western Europe — Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Here in the U.S., discord and turmoil have begun to take root not only in Zuccotti Park, but on the West Coast, in Oakland and Seattle, in the Midwest cities of Chicago and Cleveland and even as far south as Miami.

Then, in Washington, D.C., we got another glimpse of just how dysfunctional our government really is. Around Veterans Day, it became clear that the so-called super committee, the bipartisan Congressional joint committee tasked with coming to terms on a deficit-reduction bill, began pointing fingers and throwing their hands up in despair.

So, after months of deliberations, the bipartisan committee was forced to report that they were unable to reach an agreement before the Nov. 21 deadline.

President Obama came out firing against Republicans, stating that they rejected what he thought was a “balanced approach to deficit reduction that included tax increases on the wealthy.”

Is anyone surprised?

Guess what: All of our lawmakers are to blame, the president and Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Their lack of meaningful action to provide a path that will lead to reducing our deficit proves that members of Congress have once again bowed to their political survival instincts. The public be damned! Re-election is clearly more important than anything else.

This mantra is rooted in two components, political correctness and saying whatever will help “me” get re-elected.

Shame on you, Congress! Whatever happened to having the courage to lead, or making the tough decision because you know it’s the right thing to do? What happened to being a leader and not a follower?

This all may sound cliché. But, clearly, Americans do not respect elected officials because of the foolish partisan bickering that is holding our nation hostage and preventing the meaningful reform that could help our nation recover from the current economic downturn.