Frame this correctly: Trump is holding federal workers hostage.

[califootman]

Trump has essentially resorted to terrorism. He is currently holding 800,000 federal workers as economic hostages. That doesn't even factor in the damage to National Parks and other public lands, the economic toll on small businesses like restaurants and coffee shops that got much of their business from nearby federal workers, and the impacts of lost productivity at Federal agencies.

Democrats need to push that point. Emphasize that Democrats want to improve border security just as Trump and the Republicans want to improve border security. We are willing to negotiate how much to spend and how it should be spent to achieve improved border security. But we don't negotiate with terrorists. As long as the Trump admin holds federal workers as hostages, Democrats cannot in good conscience even begin to negotiate.

Democrats are willing to reopen the federal government immediately and then negotiate a solution on border security. Congressional Republicans can join them and end the hardships that federal workers and the entire country are experiencing, or they can be complicit with the Trump administration in this economic assault on the federal workforce.

[dalton99a]

1. Donald Trump is the single biggest threat to America and the world.

[Lock him up.]

7. .

[RockRaven]

2. The 800K number doesn't begin to tell the tale

and not just because of down-stream effects of how federal workers spend their money. Also because of how wide-spread the phenomenon of contracted tasks is. Construction, maintenance, janitorial services, food services etc -- and all manner of other things -- at federal facilities aren't all performed by federal employees. They are often performed by employees of companies who have contracts to provide services. They get locked out too. And they (mostly) don't get paid for hours they don't work, and can never get back the chance to work.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Yup.

There are twice as many federal contractors as FTEs (full time equivalent civil servants). And if any of those contracts were awarded using (non-multi-year) appropriated funds or are not able to use "no year" money (e.g., grants/user fees), then agencies not funded would have had to issue "stop work" orders to those contractors... And should the government re-open, they will not be paid (unless their Primes pull the money out of their own pockets to pay their employees).

The lazy media loves pointing at the National Parks because they are easily accessible to cameras and mics since they obviously cannot go inside federal buildings without an invite by an agency, so they leave the impression that little else goes on in the government but people hiking through the parks.

[Cha]

3. Agree!

[Liberty Belle]

4. Way more than federal workers.

It's everyone who relies on the federal government. Here's a partial list, please add more:
- SNAP/food stamp recipients
-SSI/Social Security recipients
- federal contractors
- anyone who flies whose safety is at risk with 25% of TSA agents off the job
--visitors to National Parks, monuments and museums that are either closed or dirty/not maintained
--travelers with applications in limbo for passports and global reentry passes
- taxpayers whose tax returns will be delayed if this continues
- anyone owed money by the federal government for anything, as money starts to run out
- farmers who may not get agricultural subsidies
- disabled people who rely on disability checks
--our food supply, if food inspectors are sidelined or walk off
--public health, if the CDC, EPA etc. are defunded or their workers furloughed

[Midnight Writer]

5. Frame this correctly: Trump is holding AMERICAN WORKERS hostage.

[pnwmom]

6. Yes, he is. And welcome to DU, califootman!

[Tanuki]

8. MF45 is trying to frame it as a "strike."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/04/politics/trump-calling-shutdown-strike/index.html

[RestoreAmerica2020]

9. Ha...mf45--clever, very clever indeed; fits nicely on a hat or shirt. If i may insert an i.. IMF45.

[Timmygoat]

10. How about

The workers he is ordering to go back to work, I feel sure there are some who need money for travel, babysitters etc, and how about the rent, they must be all out looking for other jobs.

Just a thought - has he shown anyone his detailed plans of the wall?

[Vinca]

12. If that's the case, then all government workers should "strike." Everyone from the person

who scrubs his toilet to the chef who must recreate fast food for his blubbery palate. Let him iron his own goddamn shirt.

[Luz]

13. How long does he expect "essential" personnel to work

without pay?