To the editor:

What harm could the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare cause our nation that is any worse than what the government shutdown is causing right now? Of course the president can’t negotiate with the people who caused the shutdown. That would legitimize extortion as a political tactic.

Extortion, by the way, is when you threaten harm to innocent people unless you get what you want. “Defund Obamacare, or we’ll keep the government shut down.” That’s extortion, a criminal act everywhere but in the Republican Party.

I call on senior Republican leadership to please take in hand your unruly members and begin repairing the harm they’ve caused. Concentrate on strengthening our country, instead trying to destroy the laws of the land through extortion as you are currently doing.

Though not perfect, the Affordable Care Act is already helping millions. The government shutdown is harming millions. Please stop it now.