Dear Mr. Trump,

It’s no surprise that you tried as hard as you could to wreck a seven-year-old girl’s belief in Santa Claus. You are, at heart, a wrecker of dreams, if those dreams don’t center upon you. Santa Claus? He’s not you, so why should that little girl believe?

You take pleasure in wrecking other dreams as well.

You’ve wrecked the dreams of federal workers who hoped that they would be paid during the holiday season for the work that they’ve done and must still do.

If federal workers default on their mortgages while you play your political games, too bad, according to you. They’re “marginal” anyway.

If federal workers were unable to buy Christmas presents for their children, too bad, according to you. You can afford to give presents to your own children and grandchildren, and that’s all that matters. The others: “marginal.”

If federal workers can’t put food on the table while you lie to the American public about the benefits of a great big wall – one which experts say is totally useless and unnecessary – too bad, according to you. You’re the great dealmaker from hell.

As far as you’re concerned, let the people who guard our airports and guide our commercial airplanes, who patrol our borders, who maintain our government buildings, who prosecute crimes at the Justice Department, who enforce environmental laws at the EPA, and others – let them all drop dead! Or let them eat cake if they can’t eat bread!

Like you said in 2013, a government shutdown starts at the top. It proves that the president is weak. For someone who constantly lies, I have to grant you that you told the absolute truth in 2013.

Open up the government! End the Trump Shut-Down!

Very truly yours,

Bruce J. Berger