I thought this was a very valid point:

[Conjuay]

Found on Bluesky:

"So if we can just cancel funding / projects that have already been Congressionally approved and appropriated,
What's the point of negotiating?

[rurallib]

1. Many years ago my then rep told me that he was in favor of a bill to give

the president a line item veto.
"Well, then what is congress going to do? If the president can just write his own budget, what are you guys going to do?"

Congress's one big power is the purse. If the president can just spend or not spend money as he wants, what is their function?

[calimary]

5. Mighty good point.

[poozwah]

6. well....

the republicans view congress as a legitimizing entity used to rubber stamp trump’s authoritarianism. it has become little more than a corrupt money gathering institution which is subservient to the wealthy and only pretends to pay attention to us during election cycles. citizen’s united has destroyed our nation.

[Rebl2]

13. Exactly

Republicans are letting him do this, not lifting a finger to stop him. So why bother having congress and senate.

[popsdenver]

19. LOL even more stupid

are the Republican U.S. House Members, the U.S. Republican Senators, and the Republican U.S. Supreme Court Justices.......

They are all just as massively delusional as Trump Inc., to think that there is a Judicial Branch, and a Legislative Branch of government in
a Dictatorship/Tyranny.............

[dweller]

2. For that matter - what is the shutdown all about ?

The repugs could just agree to funding Medicaid and ACA funding and pass the bill. … and Pisswig could let Vought eliminate it from funding .
Is it all kabuki ?

😐


✌🏻

[Irish_Dem]

10. The shut down is a way to fire more federal workers. And terrorize everyone.

[dweller]

12. But they do that anyway

From the beginning with doge … and the repugs have always acted as a terrorist organization
Only purpose of the shutdown is to point a finger at Dems while repugs screw everyone


✌🏻

[Irish_Dem]

14. This was a new opportunity to commit crimes.

[Redleg]

3. And we may ask "what's the point of Congress and Article I?"

Trump does not negotiate in good faith.

[Clouds Passing]

4. Blue states must withdraw their federal government funding, now!

[caraher]

8. But... how?

As far as I know tax funds don't first pass through state governments.

[FoxNewsSucks]

17. It doesn't. Payroll taxes are

sent directly to the IRS by employers. I would assume other federal taxes collected by retailers and other businesses are also sent directly to the federal government.

[Clouds Passing]

9. IDK but they need to figure out a way yesterday.

[popsdenver]

21. Yes

without all the blue states money, Trump Inc. would have no money to send to the 30+? Red states that receive far more money, than they ever send in to the Feds........

[angrychair]

7. They don't need Congress

They have already clearly shown that.

[RogueRocket]

11. Good point

This is a great point and I agree but do we just keep the government closed until Trump agrees to conditions that stop him from doing that?

[Cirsium]

20. As opposed to what?

What is the alternative?

[popsdenver]

23. Short of some miracle

it seems we are destined to either Martial Law, or another Civil War..............Either way is fine with these quasi RepubliCONS.........

[BurnDoubt]

15. Why would you negotiate with a CROOK?

Trump has lied and cheated every day of his life.
McConnell STOLE two Supreme Court appointments and destroyed our Government.
They are entirely untrustworthy.

[TommieMommy]

16. Very true 👍

[Joinfortmill]

18. That's autocracy

[North Coast Lawyer]

22. never negotiate with terrorists

Not negotiating with terrorists has been America's standard procedure. No reason to deviate from this maxim when dealing with an internal threat.