A government shutdown is not a game

I am aghast that our Republican representatives are standing silent as a small cadre of their fellow House members brings us to a foolish, dangerous and unnecessary shut down of our Federal Government. The consequences of this imminent closure are huge: thousands of government offices closed with a threat to dozens of aspects of our lives; resources for governmental programs suspended such as military pay, food assistance, housing assistance, law enforcement, our courts, the weather service, road projects (nearly every aspect of our lives) suspended.

The world economy will nose dive and one huge result might well be a shot in the arm of authoritarian rule everywhere. Including in the U.S. where this dangerous gambit by a few radicals shows disdain for the fundamentals of democracy and the rule of law. All it would take to end this petulant power grab by a few un-American "representatives" would be for a few leaders, such as our four representatives, to say "enough, we do not sanction this imminent chaos." And when the election happens next year I hope Iowa Republican voters remember this awful moment when their elected leaders hold our government and way of life hostage.

Robert Sessions

Iowa City