Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Robert Morris University.

The first Tuesday in November is always Election Day in the United States. Because this is an odd-numbered election year, no leading political offices are at stake. And for the current occupants of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House, that is probably a good thing. They will not face the wrath, disgust, frustration, fear and confusion of voters who are wondering when the federal government shutdown will end.

At this point, Americans could not be blamed if they decided to throw everyone out of office. The pain millions of them feel because of the shutdown remains evident. Yet, the 435 members of the House of Representatives, the 100 members of the Senate, and the president of the United States seem increasingly out of touch by the day.

The record, a dubious term if there ever was one, for a shutdown was set during Donald Trump's first term as president: 35 days. Barring a complete surprise, the current shutdown will reach 36 days at midweek. And it will keep on going.

A few reminders of what has happened and what might happen as the shutdown continues: The salaries of more than 1 million U.S. soldiers are in question; the men and women in uniform were paid around the middle of October, but another paycheck in the coming days is not certain. Air traffic controllers, deemed essential workers, must stay on the job even though they are not being paid.

However, a sufficient number of them call off work each day, a move that leads to widespread flight delays and often at America's busiest airports. Meanwhile, the estimated 42 million Americans who receive food stamps will likely see only half their benefits this month. How they will make up the difference so that they and their loved ones will have anything close to three legitimate meals a day seems to be of no interest to elected officials.

Across the country, the inevitable short-term economic losses associated with these and other problems will become evident in the final few weeks of this year. There will be slower growth, an issue that cannot be ignored when fears of a recession are still openly shared.

Clearly, the two major political parties want all of this to stop, right? Apparently not.

From day one, the public posturing of the White House and its allies throughout the Republican Party has been matched by similar bloviating from the Democrats. Put a leading public official in front of the media, and they will remind everyone that if the other side would simply stop playing games, the shutdown would be over in mere minutes. Yet neither party has the ethical or moral integrity required to compel its rival to bend to its will. In the absence of such gravitas, symbolic and empty slogans take center stage.

Although the polls show greater disfavor for the Republicans, which should not be a surprise given that they are the party in power, there is a disgust with both parties.

A legendary U.S. college basketball coach once said that "you are not a failure until you start blaming others for your mistakes." Republicans and Democrats seem comfortable failing the American people and blaming each other for it. Their arrogance becomes even more untenable when you realize that every member of Congress is receiving their paycheck as the shutdown continues.

The arrogance of Republicans and Democrats would surprise only the naivest of people. Elected officials curry favor with the wealthiest donors, and that means precious time that could be spent with voters is not utilized.

As election days approach, Americans receive recorded phone calls, texts, or pamphlets encouraging them to vote for one person or a bloc of people; this kind of "communication" is often the only way they hear from local, state or national politicians. The idea that elected officials care about the men and women who vote them into office seems increasingly fraudulent.

Washington's leaders have turned governing into a game; there must be a winner and, therefore, there must be a loser. Remaining loyal to principle is unimportant; remaining loyal to party is. To appear too publicly interested in and too eager in favor of compromise is akin to being a traitor.

And so, Joe and Josephine American continue to suffer. Perhaps they miss another paycheck. Perhaps they board their next flight only to find out they must sit for hours because there are not enough air traffic controllers available at the other airport. Perhaps they have to send money to their son or daughter in the military because those salaries might not arrive this month.

How any of this equates to American exceptionalism is anyone's guess. However, be sure not to ask any Washington elected official, as the reply you receive will likely be the same old boilerplate baloney that blames the other side for the issue. That is wimpy and absent real leadership.

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