Shutdown nonsense

The Democrats won’t put $5 billion in the federal budget. So the Democrats are responsible for the shutdown. Trump won’t sign a budget without the $5 billion. So he is responsible for the shutdown.

It is impossible to affix blame since both parties have a very simple thing to do to avoid a shutdown and neither will do it. However, it is also clear the Democrats have no interest in working in a bipartisan way, even though they continually claim they do. It is clear they believe a shutdown benefits them politically.

If the Democrats were interested in bipartisanship and in the coveted compromise the Democrats would split the difference and put $2.5 billion into the budget. Done! Both sides could claim a partial victory.

As a side note, I believe the entire $5 billion border wall issue to be ridiculous and troubling. With a $4,400 billion dollar, a trillion dollar annual deficit, and a $22 trillion national debt, can border wall spending be the only thing rising to the level of discussion? The other $4,395 billion in the budget is just rubber-stamped? Just rearranging chairs on the Titanic.

David Barnes

Spokane Valley