Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Rule of law is what makes our democracy different from the totalitarian governments of the world.

The Affordable Care Act was passed by both houses of Congress and signed into law by the president. The Supreme Court upheld it. It is the law of the land. To shut the government down in objection to the Affordable Care Act is not rule of law.

If the Tea Party Republicans are unwilling to accept the ACA, they should go through the legislative process as defined by our Constitution to repeal it. They are setting a very dangerous precedent by ignoring the way our Constitution works.

I think that shutting the government down is completely irresponsible and goes beyond what any reasonable person would do.

Norris H. Richardson

Mathews, Va.
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