On the anniversary of President Trump’s reelection, the nation finds itself embroiled in yet another political spectacle, with two major milestones grabbing headlines simultaneously. First, there’s the jubilant occasion of Trump’s win being remembered, marked characteristically by his memorable dance that some have embraced and others have met with a collective eye roll. But as celebration and dissent collide, the U.S. is witnessing the longest government shutdown in its history, a peculiar achievement that perhaps isn’t fit for a commemorative dance.
Sunday brought out demonstrators in full force outside the Supreme Court, rallying against the President. They dressed in “Handmaid’s Tale” costumes—a clear nod to what they perceive as creeping authoritarianism—and because, naturally, no protest is complete without at least one person in an inflatable frog suit. One might wonder what poor Kermit did to deserve such posthumous caricatures as a stand-in symbol for modern-day fascism. Inside the Capitol, the silence is heavy as lawmakers continue to grapple with the standoff over funding. However, this stalemate appears to be about as useful as a handbrake on a canoe.
In an unexpected twist, Democrats reached out in a desperate plea for negotiation, offering to meet with President Trump anytime, any place. The drama intensifies as they decry this shutdown as a mere political maneuver and a health care crisis cooked up by the GOP, which is a bit rich considering how often Democrats seem to trot out their own crisis of the week. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders openly hints at divisions within, revealing that even within their ranks, the progressive wing is getting quite antsy, ready to elbow their way to the forefront of attention.
However, President Trump has made it clear this endeavor might be futile. He has firmly stated he’ll entertain discussions with them only once the government is back up and running. It’s rather similar to asking a hostage-taker to release their captives before starting any negotiation—idealistic and unlikely to pass muster in practical terms. Yet here we are, with Democrats defiantly clinching onto their demand for more spending—a move as predictable as a rain shower in Seattle.
Meanwhile, federal workers and millions on food assistance programs twist in the winds of political stalemate. The Democrats, presumably, are banking on leveraging public sentiment, which is apparently in short supply these days. As this shutdown saga drags on, one can only wonder how much futility the American public is willing to endure over political theatrics. With food stamps and workers’ pays at stake, everyday folks might just tire of being the “pawns” in this political chess game, though for some it looks more like a game of checkers. If a resolution isn’t found soon, all the clownish antics and partisan jabs might give the term “government dysfunction” a whole new meaning.
