Taking sides on the government shutdown

I am outraged that Washington politicians are playing games with people’s lives “U.S. near its record for pause,” News, Nov. 3]. Lawmakers are using the federal shutdown to cut off a significant amount of SNAP food assistance benefits for nearly 42 million Americans, including approximately 16 million children. This is not a policy debate; it’s a moral failure.

SNAP helps families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities put food on the table. It is one of the nation’s most effective anti-poverty programs. Yet, instead of extending vital tax credits that make health insurance more affordable, congressional leaders have shut down the government, risking pushing millions deeper into poverty. To add insult to injury, the Trump administration initially refused to help by dipping into the SNAP contingency fund.

Is this what governing has become? Holding food and health care hostage while the wealthy get tax breaks? No one in America should have to choose between food and health care. Congress should pass a bipartisan bill that protects Americans’ health care and ends this needless shutdown.

— Angela DeLessio, Medford

People who have medical insurance through the Affordable Care Act will have big premium increases if taxpayers do not continue to subsidize them, and that is unfortunate for them. However, keeping the government shut down is hurting other people who also have mortgages and bills and are not getting a paycheck.

It is unfair to cause severe hardships for hardworking Americans just to give handouts to other people. Helping other people is great but not at the expense of those who are also trying to survive with ever-increasing bills.

Life is getting increasingly difficult when two people with college degrees and good jobs can barely buy a house and have trouble paying bills because a good chunk of their money goes to taxes to give free things to others. It is totally unfair.

The Republicans have signed a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government 13 times. Senate Democrats need to vote for it now and reopen the government, then negotiate subsidies afterward.

— Teresa Pescitelli, Shoreham

It is becoming tedious hearing the Republican Party, which controls the presidency, both houses of Congress and has a servile Supreme Court, continue to blame Democrats for their own failure to manage the country. From government employee firing sprees to tariff “policy” to shutting down the government, the Grand Old Party has demonstrated arrogance and incompetence.

President Donald Trump won the election with 49.8% of the popular vote while Kamala Harris received 48.3%. That is hardly a mandate. The tens of millions of Americans who didn’t vote for him deserve representation as well. Any seasoned executive would know that when you want something (like votes) from your opponent, you negotiate a compromise. That is the job of the person in power — to manage an organization so it can function.

Digging in, demanding full submission, threatening, and allowing one’s ego to cause failure are not the tactics of a responsible adult. The party of “personal responsibility” needs to put those words into action and resolve the shutdown.

— Cynthia Lovecchio, Remsenburg

The shutdown is squarely on Democrats’ shoulders. Many media “experts” assign blame to Donald Trump and his administration. The Democrats want more spending, Trump and the Republicans don’t, and the GOP doesn’t want to be held at gunpoint to appease the Democrats.

— Anthony Bordano, Middle Village

Since Congress feels no pain from this horrific shutdown, then the people of this great country (is it still a great country?) who pay their salaries would like to know why are members of Congress exempt from this hardship and continue to receive their salaries?

If federal employees are not paid their salaries, then by extension shouldn’t all government employees not be paid, including Congress? It is one way of taxpayers holding onto a small part of the billions of dollars that will be permanently lost due to the shutdown. Perhaps these high-minded elected officials need to get a sense of how everyday Americans suffer without a salary.

It is a cop-out for House Speaker Mike Johnson to say that the House has done its job and it is now up to the Senate. Millions of American lives are at stake, including children.

Donald Trump now has more presidential powers than ever before, and the “No Kings” rallies seem to have accomplished nothing. Are the American people witnessing a coup of our government, and, if so, does anyone care?

— Margaret Johnson, Middle Island

The shutdown shows that our current elected officials hardly do anything for us. They don’t even answer my correspondence.

— Bob Damato, Floral Park