Although unpopular among many Democrats and progressive independents, Sen. Angus King’s decision to join seven Democrats and potentially end the government shutdown was morally correct.

President Trump was prepared to defund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could have led the to starvation of 42 million of our most vulnerable citizens. He was also threatening the jobs of and holding up paychecks for millions of government workers.

The pain Trump was willing to inflict on people was simply too much to ignore. While affordable health care is important, immediate provision of food is a basic necessity. Trump really wanted Senate Republicans to end the filibuster, which would have given him unlimited dictatorial powers. Fortunately that has not happened.

Instead of directing anger at Sen. King and the seven Democrats who reluctantly supported this bill to prevent widespread starvation, stay laser focused on the real villain. Donald Trump is a degenerate sociopath who is willing to withhold food from his own citizens to advance a political agenda. This is what genocidal tyrants like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of Israel, and President Ilham Aliyev, of Azerbaijan, do to their enemies. Donald Trump was prepared to do this to his own citizens.

It should have never gotten to this point. Susan Collins was one of seven Republican senators who joined with her Democratic colleagues to convict Donald Trump after the second impeachment trial. If 10 additional Republican senators displayed her courage and fidelity to the Constitution, we would not be in this mess.

Gary Zartarian
West Bath