Unless terribly mistaken, we live in a democracy with a Constitution that requires a division of power within the federal government. The House of Representatives creates spending decisions based on its opinions and forwards them to the Senate that accepts or rejects provisions based on members’ opinions.

The House voted appropriations for spending that covered everything needed to run our current government except health care. The Senate chose not to accept any part.

So, who is at fault – a House that voted to keep our future debt down, not accept funding for health care as written, but keep the government running and fund all other government activities or a president and senate who chose an all or nothing approach to spending that obligates you, me, our children and grandchildren to pay back?

There are enough funds and taxes coming in to federal coffers to pay for current obligations, our current debt, and no reason for a shutdown or default. The fight is over new debt. Nothing new here. It has happened before.

Basically we have a Senate acting as spoiled children wanting their way and only their way or nothing. And they chose the Nothing leaving “We The People” with more hardship, a sluggish economy, citizens and foreign governments with little faith in U.S, and a dysfunctional government.

So, who is holding whom hostage? It’s your choice but think about it first.

Tom Shafer, Bellevue