Did he not learn?

Before Donald Trump shut down the government, he went to lengths to take credit for doing so – “taking the mantle,” in his words. Apparently his intent was to set the stage for post-shutdown crowing. But he could have saved his energy; no victory laps were to follow.

The president reopened government, but only for three weeks. This prolongs the uncertainty and misery. His shutdown antics all along have been cynical, cruel, costly and foolish. Cynical because unilaterally stiffing federal workers became a presidential priority only after the 2018 elections afforded a face-off against the opposition party (the president’s party being in charge previously). Cruel for insouciantly disrupting the lives of dedicated public servants and private contractors; the latter will likely never be made whole. Costly: economists suggest that GDP is set to shrink by at 0.5% or more this year because of dislocations. And foolish because the president politically painted himself into a corner with no exit strategy, other than to retreat as eventually exacted by Senate Republicans.

As Mitch McConnell noted, “There is no education in the second kick of a mule.” Mr. Trump says he may restart the shutdown. Is this a slow learner?

Richard D. Steele

Spokane