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American legislators from the two parties are assigning blame as numerous of federal staff remain on furlough and the funding gap drags on with no resolution in prospect.

Democrats have declined to back the Republican funding bill unless lapsing medical assistance which they say many employed households rely on are extended.

The Republican Party expect the opposition to approve a short-term legislation beforehand and then they can address the support payments.

Misty Dennis, Mid-Forties, GOP Supporter

This California resident is anxious about the widespread consequences of the funding halt on ordinary citizens.

The GOP have fifty-three votes, they need sixty to enact the measure. Is it that hard to come together over 7 votes so that Americans avoid harm?

If this drags on for another week or two, the reality is Americans are being affected, the populace are being impacted by this and someone needs to do something to be the responsible party in the room.

I believe sometimes legislators are so removed from the people, the average individual managing daily affairs, so they forget what the struggle is like and I think they should remember that, especially if it's 750,000 US citizens that are not getting paid.

That's a lot of Americans without pay, that's a significant number of citizens not putting their income into the economy. Citizens are just being negatively impacted.

A Democratic Voter, Twenty-Two, Democrat

This Old Line State resident recognises this funding lapse will create hardship to many US citizens, but she believes it is a necessary struggle.

I'm concerned because there is no favorable conclusion with the federal government being inactive.

I'm very concerned about what's going to happen to economically disadvantaged groups, students who rely on government grants and federal employees.

But this is a important struggle for the Democratic Party to fight. Certainly employment are going to be lost, programmes are going to lack financial support, which is so disappointing but I do not believe that is responsibility that the the left would have on their record.

I think it's important to persist, this is communicating a strong statement to their constituents.

A Democratic Voter, 36, Democratic Supporter

This California resident is worried the Democratic Party do not have strategy in their funding gap strategy.

I question if the Senate Democratic leader has a roadmap for an off-ramp to negotiations or how to lead the party away from this.

I question if the Democratic Party have a clear narrative to the public on what they're attempting.

In terms of online communication, the GOP certainly have the advantage. The communication is not persuasive on what Democrats are aiming for.

I'm currently at a juncture where I'm kind of anxious because federal closures don't help anyone.

I'm going to be unaffected, but for others who relies on the federal system, who hopes to go visit a National Park or museum, they're going to be impacted, if not currently, then in the near future.

And that is intolerable.

Jim Sullivan, 55, GOP Supporter

This Indiana voter claims the left are acting strategically with everyday people and their income.

This is standard politics. It is a continuing resolution they are seeking to enact, that the Democrats reject.

People are labeling it a Schumer shutdown, it's not due to the Republicans, it's due to the Democratic leader, he's acting to maintain influence within his group - in the meantime, people are in the lurch.

I don't see that this is going to end.

The real people are caught in the middle, and the left are prepared to harm those people. They're not doing their cause any benefits when they actually hold up matters like this.

A Democratic Voter, Late Twenties, Democratic Supporter

This Sunshine State citizen states Democrats' strategy is a tough but required one and one that affects his family member, who has been sent home because of the funding gap.

Democrats' strategy is a tough one, but unfortunately it is a required one.

They have not been able to do very much to slow or prevent the government's agenda.

I support their approach, I support their reasoning for doing it.

The administration leader is a bully and if you yield to a intimidator he's going to expect further compromises, that's how bullies behave. So you have to resist a aggressor to make him recognise you're not going to surrender for without resistance.

The juncture when it crosses a line is when the Democrats start suffering in the PR battle, if the narrative turns to blaming the left then it might be necessary to end the standoff.

A Republican Voter, Sixty-Four, Republican

This Arizona citizen is not directly impacted by the funding lapse so he is supportive of the closure persisting, if that is what it is needed for Republicans to succeed.

I would believe after the period that the left have had, I would have assumed that they would have supported the temporary funding, at least in the short term.

I am in favor of what the GOP are attempting, I'm in favor of lowering federal outlays.

The Democrats have grown so hateful of the administration, regardless of what he offers I believe they would find cause to oppose him.

I personally am not feeling the pressure that other citizens are, this does not affect.

What little we rely on the federal system - what it supplies for us - the funding gap is will not affect us {whatsoever|at all|in any