On liberals, freedoms, shutdowns: Be informed
The extreme right use liberal, leftist, progressive, and socialists as synonyms for anti-American. This is no more true than conservative, rightist, regressive, and plutocrats being anti-American. We need both positions to maintain a healthy balance.
Regarding religion, the founding fathers believed in freedom of and from religion in law. Proof is their rejection of a government religion. Laws, with often exhaustive debate, avoid chaos and help our many beliefs and cultures coexist.
On shutdowns, consider some history. Bush Sr. in 1990 had a shutdown. Leftists debated a growing debt. Clinton in 1995/96 had two shutdowns costing $2.1 billion. Rightists pursued increasing Medicare premiums and the source of data - they wanted the COB, leftists wanted the OMB.
The CBO was used. Bush Jr. had a rightist dominated government with no shutdowns - the economy plummeted in 2008.
Obama in 2016 had 1 shutdown costing $2.5B. Rightists pursued defunding the ACA and leftists then delayed some funding. Trump's 2017 shutdown had issues on DACA and funding a $21B+ wall. Leftists offered wall concessions but rightists refused on DACA. Trump encouraged a shutdown.
On respect - Obama's state of the Union address was interrupted by Wilson (R) hollering "You Lie"; Boehner (R) did his "Hell no you won't" speech; and McConnell (R) stated he'd refuse co-operation on anything.
The point is be informed. Check history and search on a computer to include topics like "Debt GDP by President" or "Off the Books Cost of Iraq War". Past behavior and result can be an in-dicator of future behavior and result - then develop an opinion.
Linda Ruesch
Gurnee