What is really behind the shutdown and comments by some administration and Congressional
figures is plain racism. They rev up the Trump base with the old myth that mostly blacks work for the government, if not "mostly" just too many minorities and women making too much money and getting free healthcare etc. It's a myth that grew out of the Affirmative Action and equal opportunity laws and regs of the late 60's. But I have to believe that the number of white faces and families being shown on TV who are really suffering from this shutdown is going to drive Trump's numbers to the pits. The really sad part of this is that many minorities and women do, in fact, work for the businesses that CONTRACT with the Federal government. There contract employees are among the very lowest paid employees and the WILL NOT be getting back pay when the Federal employees get their back pay. I don't think there are that many compassionate Contractors who would make their employees whole even though they can afford to do so.
It's a sad situation and feel badly for all those suffering from Trump's needless, wasteful, and harmful shutdown.