Our choices say who we are at any given time. What does it say when you can choose to make a deal, but decide that 800,000 working people won’t be paid until you get what you want? The president has had two years with a Republican Congress and did not get wall funding; suddenly everything must stop until he gets what he wants. It is appalling that our country is at this point. Everyone wants secure borders and safe streets, but we are not currently in a worse situation than we were in 10, 8, or 4 years ago – there is no crisis. So why are government employed Americans being taken economic hostage? America has become the greatest power in the world in part because we get along well with our neighbors, and don’t have a resource draining militarized border. Is the president attempting to change our relationship with our neighbors? Why?