For the past 36 days, I've wondered: what are Congress and the politicians we elect thinking by failing to do their job? Do they realize the significant impact their childish standoffs are having on real Americans, small businesses, and the erosion of trust they're creating? How can small businesses survive, and how can the government retain talent when it's shut down?

As Mark Twain once said, "Don't wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it." I'm refraining from pointing fingers about who caused this crisis or which party is responsible. In my view, every elected representative shares the blame for not getting their job done. They have failed the nation and their constituents—yet they're the only ones not feeling the pain of their consequences. The Potomac aristocracy is still getting paid, collecting benefits, and blaming each other rather than fixing what they're paid to fix. Shame on them.

Let me tell you why, as a small business owner and as a combat-disabled veteran who is still serving, I am feeling the brunt of this government shutdown. While I write to my representatives about the pains I'll highlight below, I don't even receive a letter or an invitation to discuss. This is how democracy dies—by populist incompetence.

As a Business Owner

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. We're suffering from not receiving orders and revenue. This senseless fighting is causing my small company to lose close to 40% of revenue for October, and it will be the same for November given that no one is going to order pent-up demand for the holidays. Additionally, for work I've already performed, I'm not getting paid—yet I still need to pay my bills, payroll, and suppliers. My accounts receivable has quadrupled compared to our normal situation, and if this continues, it will keep accumulating.

What hurts most is that there's no clear path to fixing this, no accountability, and worst of all, no guarantee this won't happen again. Tell me why I should continue investing in my business to go through this every year going forward. The appropriations delays in 2024, and now shutdowns, seem even more real.

As a Member of the Air Force Reserve

I see the untold story of Department of Defense civilians. The DoD has around 700,000 federal employees—roughly one-third of the entire force. These members are mostly veterans like myself, and they're either furloughed or simply working for free. When politicians say "pay the troops," they're not paying the DoD civilians who work side by side with uniformed members. How is this fair? These employees also hold clearances and are the backbone of the Air Force Reserve. How can I continue pushing my DoD civilians’ employees on the reserve side to defend this amazing country when the "leaders" we elect to do their job have failed? Who in their right mind will want to work as a GS employee when again there is no guarantee that this will not happen again, and again as more populist leaders that have no back bone to do their job continue to get elected.

Conclusion

Like Mercutio said before his death, "a plague on both your houses (republicans and democrats)" rings true today more than ever. Do your job as elected officials, we are doing ours. Find a compromise, open this country for business, and restore pride in our republic, and if you cannot get out—because right now you are "making worms' meat of the US."