Camas resident Anna Miller says ‘it’s tiresome watching people spout opinions without understanding the basic mechanics of our government’

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

In a recent USA Today article, a woman named Samantha blamed Republicans for the government shutdown, citing their control of the House, Senate, and White House. Her remarks weren’t just misinformed; they were emblematic of a troubling trend: opinions backed by zero personal due diligence.

Let’s be clear. Republicans do hold slim majorities in both chambers and the presidency. But in the Senate, most legislation, including funding bills, requires 60 votes to advance. Republicans hold only 53 seats. That means they need at least seven Democratic votes to move forward. Without bipartisan cooperation, even a majority party cannot pass funding bills alone.

Recent votes to end the shutdown have failed with totals like 54–45. Nearly all Republicans (except Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who voted no and Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) who abstained or was absent) voted in favor, but only a few Democrats (John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME), joined the Republicans to open up the government; insufficient to meet the 60-vote threshold.

Democrats say they’ve withheld support to force negotiations over healthcare subsidies. What they don’t mention is that those subsidies extend to undocumented immigrants, legally termed “illegal aliens.” The euphemisms may vary, but the implications don’t.

My instincts are telling me there’s a deeper play at work here.  With the midterms looming, Democratic leaders are dialing up the drama, manufacturing outrage while quietly praying for a political Hail Mary. Their strategy? Create as much pain as possible for the American people and then blame Republicans for the government shutdown, hoping voters won’t notice the sleight of hand behind the curtain.

It’s tiresome watching people spout opinions without understanding the basic mechanics of our government. The Senate was designed to require consensus, not just control. The minority party has leverage, and they are using it to misinform the electorate.

USA Today’s decision to print Samantha’s comments without a single fact check is no surprise. It’s hard not to see it as deliberate: a choice to amplify a false narrative rather than clarify the truth.

If we want to hold our leaders accountable, we must first understand the rules they operate under. Media outlets have a responsibility to inform, not inflame. And citizens have a duty to think before they speak. The bottom line? Five Democratic YES votes stand between us and a reopened government. 

Anna Miller
Camas

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