If people keep bickering at the state and federal levels about what government should or should not be doing, one thing is for sure — the status quo will be maintained.

We have created an non-functional family, and either mom or dad has to stand up to the plate and acknowledge the problem. One of the challenges with non-functional families is that both mom and dad feel they are being the best parent possible. It is, however, always the children who suffer the consequences of the lack of functionality.

In this case, it is we, the people, who are enabling the dysfunction to continue, and it is we who will pay the price.

An alternative would be for mom and dad to get together and decide what they want the family to look like and then decide how to best get there.

Is that too much to ask from our leaders?

James Tierney, Auburn