To the Journal editor:

Like most, if not all residents of Marquette County, we opposed the (recent) government shut down. As consistently shown in public opinion polls, we agree that no branch of government should shut down the federal government in order to force another branch of the federal government to agree on a public policy.

Such a strategy violates the constitutional principle of separation of powers. This strategy hurts the federal workers in the U.P., their families and all of us who depend on federal services.

We believe that the U.S. does need to increase border security but the best way to discuss and decide how to accomplish this is for the leadership of the Senate and the House to sit down with the White House and compromise in good faith.

That is the American way.