The longest government shutdown, stretching from October 1 to November 12, highlights a deep partisan divide that paralyzed Washington. What should have been a routine vote on federal spending revealed how politically dysfunctional our system has become. A system that  is no longer by and for the people, but rather by fascism and for billionaires. 

Over those 43 days, millions of citizens were left without paychecks, food assistance, or the ability to travel for work. The government acted in a gross overstep of power, in being willing to jeopardize ordinary families’ livelihoods by halting services and furloughing workers. Many of the officials responsible seemed more loyal to their political agendas than the people of this nation.

The Administration has become out of touch with the basic needs of the nation. Nearly 14 million children live in food insecure households, according to Feeding America. This is a shocking reality. While families struggle to put food on the table, the White House continues hosting high-profile events and funding expensive renovations.

Trump’s 300 million dollar ballroom is filled with golden candle stick holders and marble tile. This imagery is uncomfortably reminiscent of the French Revolution, where the ruling class was oblivious to the suffering of the people. Today it is not Marie Antoinette, but the GOP who yells, “Let them eat, cake.” They send the same apparent message: let struggling Americans fend for themselves.

Just like in the French Revolution, however, millions are protesting and demanding change.

  Federal workers were among the hardest hit during the shutdown. From active-duty military personnel to congressional staffers, more than a million federal workers either went without pay or were furloughed entirely, according to Bipartisan Policy Center. Expecting people to show up for work without pay should be a red flag to Americans, and a breaking point for the liberties we allow our officials to have. The government dangled livelihoods over the heads of millions of families that depend on that paycheck, preventing them from paying their rent or stocking their fridge. This marks a dangerous precedent for how easily our leaders can disregard basic workers’ rights.

The shutdown also froze critical federal services like SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program relied on by over 42 million people, many of whom are children, elderly, or disabled, according to the Harvard Kennedy School. The administration held the most vulnerable members of our nation hostage to achieve their political agendas instead of working for the populations with the highest risk.

Many states were left to fill the gap. In fact California launched emergency CalFresh subsidies and even deployed the National Guard to distribute food in Sacramento. 

The origins of this “record-breaking” government shutdown is sourced from a clear divide in not just policy but personal values. 

The shutdown’s origins lie not only in policy disagreements but in a widening divide in values. The White House prominently posted messages blaming the Democrats for the closure. Even the voicemail of the communications office accused lawmakers of prioritizing “healthcare for illegal immigrants” over the American people. These statements reflect a deliberate effort to fan the flame rather than solve problems. 

This rhetoric fuels the self-inflicted divisions and distracts from the real danger: a government increasingly shaped by wealthy elites rather than the needs of its citizens.

The government reached a temporary solution by postponing the decision issues such as SNAP and the ACA. With a vote of 222 to 209 as six Democrats switched over to the Republican decision, uncertainty lies ahead. Millions of Americans have suffered as a result of how far our political system has drifted from its obligation to serve the greater good of the public. As voters we should demand accountability and leaders who prioritize solutions over spectacle, who uphold the promise of the American Dream instead of allowing it to slip further out of reach.