OPINION:
As a Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and retired law enforcement officer, I’ve spent a lifetime defending the republic, not party lines.
But when dysfunction paralyzes Washington and harms everyday Americans, clarity is not optional. The latest government shutdown is not a bipartisan failure; it’s a direct result of Democratic obstruction and misplaced priorities.
While Republicans advanced funding bills that preserved border security, supported veterans and restrained reckless spending, Democrats chose brinkmanship. They weaponized procedural delays, rejected compromise, and prioritized ideological agendas over operational governance. The result? Federal workers furloughed, services disrupted and national morale undermined.
This isn’t about political theater; it’s about tactical failure. When leadership refuses to negotiate in good faith, when they stall critical appropriations to force unrelated policy wins, they betray the very citizens they claim to represent. The shutdown was avoidable. The damage was not.
Democrats must be held accountable not just in headlines but also in history. Their refusal to fund essential operations while pushing divisive social spending is a dereliction of duty. The American people deserve better. We deserve leaders who prioritize mission readiness over partisan optics. It’s time to restore operational integrity in Washington. That begins with naming the source of the breakdown and demanding better.
GARY N. DARBY
Mesa, Arizona
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