To hold these people hostage instead of just letting them do their jobs, which they want to do while we work out our differences, so wrong. This is democracy. And in a democracy, hostage tactics are the last resort for those who can't win their fights through elections, can't win their fights in Congress, can't win their fights for the presidency, and can't win their fights in the courts. The government shutdown of any duration would harm hardworking Americans and our economy. Why should we ask TSA officers to go without their hard-earned pay while they protect our airports? I'm a senator from Virginia. Some of the hardest effects of a shutdown will be seen in my state. If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. Some, who right now, are trying to figure out how they're going to pay rent, how they're going to make mortgage payments, how they're going to keep college payments going, how they're going to keep the lights on, how they're going to keep ...