The question has been framed in the streets: is a government that impoverishes healthcare and nutrition, flouts the law, enriches its officials, imprisons babies, and kills its citizens worth the money it collects, much less the respect and obedience it demands?
Democrats have nothing to lose by shutting down the government to force the majority party to respond to these questions and the one that looms over all: what, if any, is the political and moral future of the US?
If you don’t feel like your representatives are adequately representing you (God knows I don’t), this is a good time to find a primary candidate to support (monetarily or with your time) - or even file to run yourself. Every house representative is up for reelection in November.