The Democrats’ shutdown strategy is terrible. Here’s a better one.

As of 12:01 am ET, the US federal government has been shut down. Workers deemed “nonessential” are staying at home, meaning that many government functions (like national parks) will be closed because of a lack of staff. “Essential” workers, ranging from soldiers to air traffic controllers, will be working even after money for their paychecks runs out.

This is happening, in large part, because the Democratic Party wants a fight. The shutdown could have been avoided if Democrats had agreed to allow a vote on a “continuing resolution” to fund the government, as they did in March. But this time around, Senate Democrats decided to filibuster the CR and indefinitely block government funding that Republicans have the votes to approve.

The plan is to make this fight about health care. Obamacare