When I heard that eight U.S. senators in the Democratic caucus would vote to reopen the government, I was angry (“ Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House, ” Nov. 10). Approval ratings for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s approval ratings were tanking. Perhaps public pressure would force enough of Trump’s enablers in Congress to turn against him and support extending health care subsidies while reopening the government.

Now I believe that it would always end this way, no matter how long the government was shut down and how many people suffered. Even if Congress had passed the Democrats’ proposals to reopen the government, Trump would have vetoed the bill.

The reason is simple: Trump’s cruelty and willingness to inflict suffering are boundless.

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