LETTER: Democrats battling for America against Trump in shutdown showdown

EDITOR: So now our federal government has shut down. It actually quit working around Jan. 21.

A shutdown was averted in the spring when the Democrats decided to cooperate. Meanwhile, Trump issued “executive orders” which defied or undermined institutions, policies and procedures properly established by Congress in the past.

Many lawsuits have followed, with varying results. Then came the July 4 weekend when the Republicans shoved Project 2025 down the throats of Americans who couldn’t stop them.

The Democrats worked hard to resist but they were outnumbered. In July the public demanded release of the Epstein files and Congressional Republicans tried every tactic they could to avoid voting on the release, including  Speaker Johnson moving the August recess up, time Republicans should have used to create a budget.

The Democrats are demanding that the cuts in the Big Ugly Bill for food, health care and other needs of ordinary Americans be restored. Still outnumbered, they stand together. Trump repeats the words “radical left Democrats” and other lies endlessly. He refuses to negotiate with the Democratic leaders, posting an insane and profane AI video about them. Neither he nor the Republicans are willing to do the work of governing. The press reports this story as “both parties are blaming the other.”

People are saying “What are the Democrats doing?” They are RESISTING these UNCONSCIONABLE measures to take money, food and health care from our most vulnerable Americans in order to give unnecessary tax cuts to billionaires. RESISTANCE does not mean doing nothing.

It is hard work, and it doesn’t show up in the press, which is avoiding reporting anything Trump doesn’t like. It’s a mess, but don’t blame it on the Democrats.

Martha J. Karnopp, Aurora