A few minutes before the clock struck 12 on Oct. 1, the U.S. government entered an official shutdown–an entirely preventable destructive shutdown. For 16 days approximately 800,000 furloughed federal employees forcibly sat at home while Congress struggled to reach an agreement on our nation’s budget. For over two weeks, America was the laughing stock of the planet.

On Oct. 16, President Obama signed a bill that reopened the government and raised our country’s debt ceiling. And we all live happily ever after drenched in our freedom, right? Wrong. The ending of the government shutdown may only be temporary.

Our nation’s spending levels are only being authorized through Jan. 15, and the debt cushion has been extended to Feb. 7. That is around three months for Congress to clean up its mess and reunite for the sake of U.S. citizens. FOR THE SAKE OF THE PEOPLE.

People. Since the first shutdown in 1976, the now 18 shutdowns have negatively affected Americans of all ages. Mothers and young children who are supported by programs like WIC may end up going with little to no services and infants could go without necessary nutritious food such as milk. Federal employees, including those working for national parks, monuments and museums deemed “non-essential”, were furloughed and others deemed “essential” reported to work without a paycheck. The economy was hurt, and U.S. lives were affected. To say this might happen again in mid-January infuriates Americans, while the rest of the world uses us as entertainment, again.

Leaders from around the world laughed at the government shutdown calling it an “embarrassment” for the self-claimed, “best democracy”. It seems our government is incapable of running our own country.

Members of Congress are credited as some of the most selfish Americans. All they seem to be concerned about is their fortunes, and if they get to remain rulers of their individual fiefdoms. They seem not to care about the people their actions affect. Congress needs a couple of timeouts, but instead they force other federal employees to suffer for their lack of will.

This is not fair. This is not the freedom for which our founding fathers sacrificed. This is not the America the people know and love.

This is a group of highly educated adults throwing around the earnings of fellow citizens like a bucket full of toys. America is not a toy, and they need to grow up and solve their differences like adults for the good of all of us.

Thankfully, the government was able to get itself together for the time being, but knowing this shutdown could be revisited in a matter of months is like holding a wrecking ball over our heads. Leaders around the world are buttering their popcorn now and practicing mocking tones of laughter for the Jan. 15 comedy showing.