For 43 days, America saw a major party wallow, bellow and degrade itself for no good cause, as they have done before (“Federal gov’t finally reopens,” Nov. 13).

The Democrats are now a joke, and their “leaders” aren’t real leaders.

Richard Klitzberg

Boca Raton

Let’s call this shutdown what it was — a failure of Congress to do its most basic job. I don’t care which party is to blame.

Every member of Congress should be held responsible for doing his or her job. We voted for them to represent us, not delay and posture while the government lurches from one funding crisis to the next. We deserve a government that functions — not one that survives on stopgaps and excuses.

John Malley

East Marion

The federal government shutdown has come to a close, thank God.

However, many Trump voters became collateral damage of this shutdown. I hope they recognize the man they placed in office did this to them. May he and his congressional sycophants who went along with all of it be held accountable.

Oren Spiegler

Peters Township, Pa.

Will there be another government shutdown? Politicians in both parties see evil in their opponents without seeing the flaws in their own party. They all need to go beyond the self-interest of their parties, but will they?

A reasonable discussion of issues could result in some acceptable grounds for agreement and avoid a shutdown next year.

William Schoenl

East Lansing, Mich.

The longest government shutdown in US history is finally over. Dems held America hostage for nothing. Republicans never wanted a shutdown and fought every day to reopen it. Now, let’s get America back to work.

Paul Bacon

Hallandale Beach, Fla.

After 232 years, the penny is done (“ ‘Cent’ packing,” Nov. 13).

But pennies have many essential functions aside from irritating fidgety teen convenience store clerks. For example, savvy citizens wishing to avoid tedious paperwork when purchasing a legal firearm can defend themselves by filling sturdy tube socks with pennies. And science dorks endlessly enamored with gravity toss them off skyscraper observation decks.

The penny forces us to consider our own insignificance, which reflects our true place in the universe — not literally, of course, since copper is so damn hard to shine.

Oliver Mosier

Brooklyn

In response to your article, “Penny ‘pinch’ pains” (Nov. 6), my wife’s suggestion is to have a “National Penny Give-Back Day.”

Individuals could turn in their pennies in return for a cash payment, tax deduction, charitable contribution or another item.

The pennies would then be melted down and the metal would be sold for industrial use in critical industries. It would be a win-win for everyone.

This day could be a cooperative effort that reminds people that working together and putting aside differences for a good cause can generate positive benefits for everyone, all derived from a one cent penny no one had a use for.

George Kooluris

Bronxville

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