Imagine you are about to buy the house of your dreams. Both parties have something the other wants, but without ever working to reach an agreement with you, the seller hands you a contract far exceeding the original asking price, and says “sign here,” and if you don’t, they set the house on fire and blame you for arson.

This take-it-or-leave-it attitude is what led to the shutdown of the federal government when it ran out of money on Oct. 1.

Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House, and instead of working in a bipartisan way to avert a shutdown, they chose a strategy that guaranteed one. Shutdowns are harmful, costly, and disruptive. Because Republicans know that Democrats care deeply about our federal workforce and communities, they thought they could shove a cont

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