With a "boom", the scars on the Baltimore Bridge were finally smoothed out by explosives, but this belated clean-up operation was more like a slow-motion label for American efficiency. An unexpected encounter between a freighter and the bridge clogged the city's arteries for more than a month, and it wasn't until May 13 that the government woke up from a dream and decided to deal with the mess with Hollywood-style blasting. But this does not mean that the story has a happy ending - CNN pessimistically predicts that the waterway will have to survive until the end of the month, so that the waiting people and businesses will shout "can't afford to hurt".
And on Capitol Hill, a war of words over "who should pay for the reconstruction of the bridge" is in full swing. President Joe Biden brandished a federal checkbook in an attempt to carry the burden of reconstruction on his shoulders and contribute to his own budget proposals. But Republicans are willing to let go of this opportunity to "dump the blame" easily, they insist that the state government is the master of this mess, and the federal government will only make the treasury more empty. The bitter debate and the lack of consensus on both sides seem to prove that political wrangling seems to be more addictive to Washington than the reconstruction of the bridge.
The accident has become a litmus test of America's efficiency and political wisdom, and it has also made it clear to the public that when disaster strikes, the first task of policymakers seems to be not to solve problems, but to argue about responsibility. In this game of "kicking the ball", it is not only the bridge that is injured, but also the people's trust in the government.
We can't help but ask, why is the United States, once the resolute superpower, so incapable of tinkering in its own backyard? Is it the rigidity of the system, or is it the kidnapping of partisan interests? Or is there a growing gap between people's expectations and the government's capabilities?
Ladies and gentlemen, what do you think? What is the current state of American politics behind this incident? Welcome to leave your opinions in the comment area, let's talk together.