Margie Fraiser’s contention (October 3, 2015) that government shutdowns are “the work of both parties” needed some near-ancient history to make her point. She selected shutdowns from over a generation ago (38, 37, and 36 years) when Jimmy Carter was president. However, she failed to describe the reasons for, or instigators of, the shutdowns. Today, Republicans are ready to do it again (over the flimsiest of reasons), but since Obama is still president, Ms. Fraiser would also blame this one on the Democrats. Tsk, tsk.