To the Journal editor:

So Trump has shut down the government because he didn’t get the $5 billion for his wall. Not the worst thing he has done. The worst thing is denying and hence ignoring, global warming. Not only ignoring it, taking steps to worsen it by increasing production and use of fossil fuels. (Does he not care about his 5 children and 8 grandchildren? I guess not. I guess he only cares about himself.)

But still, digging in his heels over this wall is bad. We need immigrants! A recent column by Michael Barone notes that “American fertility [is] headed to [an] all-time low.” According to this column, while our population has doubled, the birthrate has declined by 11 percent. The problem is, who’s going to pay for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as our, scattered children and grandchildren get older?

My brother, Porter Abbott, has lived in Santa Barbara, California, for many years. He says: “as someone who has had continued acquaintance with Mexican immigrants over 50 years, I would say they are more ambitious, more honest, harder working and more inclined to live their faith than your average American.

And certainly as passionate about family.”

Sounds good to me.

BARBARA ABBOTT

Lake Leelanau