Just posted to FB. It is a bit long, but it shows the narrative that the Democrats are patiently trying to negotiate while the Republicans, specifically President Trump, are refusing the negotiate.

As I read about the current government shutdown I think it is a good idea to look at this and the last shutdown back in 2013. By looking at how both sides are acting and how it is being reported I think it is easier to determine what our course of action should be in communicating with our Senators and Representatives about how to resolve this shutdown.

Back in 2013 budget talks broke down when Republicans in the House tried to defund the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Democrats, as would be expected would not let this happen. The Republicans then proposed funding the ACA but delaying implementation 1 year as there were many issues with it at the time. The Democrats, led by President Obama, again said no, the only acceptable course of action was to fund the ACA and make no changes to it. Since the two sides could not agree the government shutdown for 16 days. After 16 days the Republicans relented and funded the ACA and removed the requirement to delay implementation. During “negotiations” the Democrats did not offer any alternatives or compromises, it was all or nothing. The news reports, however, discussed how the Republicans were at fault for even trying to do anything to the ACA as they should have known that the Democrats would not let anything happen to it. Ironically, illegally, and unconstitutionally, however, after the Republicans withdrew their request to delay implementation the President acting without congressional approval delayed the implementation of the ACA by one year, the exact thing the Republicans had asked for.

In leading up to the current government shutdown the President has asked for money for a wall along the southern border. This has happened at least twice before with the President asking for money, but Democrats, specifically in the Senate because of bastardized filibuster rules, saying that none would be allowed. In each of the last two budget discussions the President was told that in the next round of negotiations funding for the wall would be discussed.

That brings us to this government shutdown, which is many ways is very similar to the one it 2013. The Republicans, led by the President started two budget discussions ago asking for $5 billion of the $25 billion needed for a border wall. The Democrats position was that no money will be spent on a wall. Next, the President offered to add a pathway to citizenship for 1.6 million “Dreamers”, 800,000 more than the Democrats were discussing. The Democrats refused to budge or to provide any alternative plan and the discussion of funding the wall and the fate of the “Dreamers” was kicked down the road to where we are now.

Again the President asked for $5 billion dollars for a border wall and again the Democrats said no. Again the Democrats have made no alternative proposals, only the demand that no money be spent on a border wall on our southern border. The news reporting on this as in 2013 is that Democrats have put out what they are willing to do, no border wall funding, and it is up to the Republicans to acquiesce to Democrat demands. Each day I listen to the news it is about how the Democrats are patiently waiting for a new proposal from the White House and Republicans that does not include border wall funding so that the stalemate can come to an end.

It is important to see that the only people trying to negotiate are the Republicans. The Democrats position has not moved, but the Republican position has, to the point of offering something that they do not necessarily support, citizenship for “Dreamers” in order to get funding for the border wall. When you hear news reports or Democrat politicians stating that they are waiting for the Republicans to negotiate, that is not what they are saying. They are saying that there is no room for compromise and that the Republicans must succumb to the Democrats will. Despite what you hear on the news, it is the President who is trying to negotiate a way out of this shut down. It is the Democrats who, by ignoring any proposal except for the one where they get everything they want, shutdown the government and are preventing it from being funded. I recommend that you contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them to start negotiating.