As Americans, we find ourselves in Day 23 of the shutdown of the federal government. The fact that President Trump doesn’t just decree the government back open speaks to the fact that he does not wield unlimited power. But it is much more complex than that.
Congress appropriations keep the government funded. Democrats are demanding Republicans agree to extend subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans, and Republicans refuse to negotiate while the government is closed. Democrats realize if they agree to reopen the government, they would lose any negotiating power they might have. And, therefore, we stand at an impasse.
In the meantime, some federal workers are furloughed while others (such as air traffic controllers, Transportation Safety Administration employees, members of the U.S. armed forces and others deemed “essential”) are expected to show up to work in hopes that they will receive their back pay once the shutdown is over.
Considering the large number of federal employees h...