As I was surfing the Internet on my comfortable couch over winter break, I stumbled upon a bit of news that I couldn’t help but shake my head at.
On Dec. 8, the United States House of Representatives took time out of its packed schedule to vote on legislation forcing the NCAA to remove the term “National Championship” unless it switches its current football bowl system to a playoff.
I’m not a political virtuoso, but I have a feeling these representatives have a bit more on their plate than wasting time over a college football playoff system.
“With all due respect, I really think we have more important things to spend our time on,” said Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga, in a report published by ESPN.com.
I could not agree with Barrow more.
I’m all for a college football playoff. It’s ridiculous to think that a team can do everything right through a season and not lose a game, only to discover they won’t be given the chance to prove they are the best. But, Washington needs to back down and tackle bigger issues.
In fact, in the same report, President Barack Obama said he would do what he could to add a playoff to college football.
“I’m going to throw my weight around a little bit,” said Obama after his election. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”
I imagine the majority of politicians, just as most Americans, are sports fans. But instead of spending their days, and our tax dollars, on figuring out ways to fix a sport, I believe our elected officials should put together blueprints to help our country begin to wiggle out of our increasing national debt.
Currently, the United States is facing a debt of more than $12 trillion and rising, according to USDebtClock.org. America’s unemployment numbers sat at 10 percent, as of November, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
There are too many important issues that these representatives should be spending time on.
All I ask of our elected officials is to find more important battles to begin.
Off of the gridiron would be a start.