I have read plenty of comments by Americans who are angry because eight Democratic-siding U.S. Senators voted to re-open the U.S. government.

Democratic U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer was NOT one of those eight “Yes” votes, but he is being scolded for allegedly “allowing” those eight “Yes” votes.

He allowed those votes?

Exactly what means did Schumer have to stop eight people possessing free will from exercising their free will?

What “stick” did Schumer possess and not use on those eight people?

Schumer’s critics seem to think that they could have controlled those eight people if they had been in Schumer’s shoes.

A valid response to those critics is illustrated by this boy:

I am a politically-independent Moderate because I know just how boneheaded that people of all political flavors can be, and “boneheaded” is how I describe people who fail to acknowledge the harm that the government shut-down inflicted on plenty of Americans.

Sure, it was easy to support the shut-down when one’s own income wasn’t stopped by it or when it didn’t keep one from gaining needed food or needed social services.

In a commentary published by the Portland [Maine] Press Herald, U.S. Senator Angus King explains why he was one of those eight “Yes” votes.

No, those eight Democratic-siding U.S. Senators and Chuck Schumer didn’t “cave” as some political pundits claim.

Instead, the eight risked their political future in order to stop the harms that the shut-down was causing. They knew that they would be criticized by pundits who don’t have any skin in the game.

Yes, the re-opening of the U.S. government means that certain Americans will have to pay more money for health insurance.

Well, here is a bit of reality that grown-ups should understand:

Sometimes, Life stinks, and there is nothing that you can do about it.

Sometimes, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

Sometimes, the only good option is to withdraw, lick your wounds and fight another day.

The critics who wanted the U.S. government to remain shut weren’t the people being harmed by the shutdown.

As I see it, those critics are impersonating Lord Farquaad.

The only cave that I see here is the cave that people hide in while attempting to avoid the aforementioned bit of reality.

By the way, if you want to criticize me for what I say in this post, then so be it. At least what I say isn’t preventing Americans from obtaining necessities.

Featured Image is from a screenshot of a YouTube video.