When a kidnapper, a rogue state or a terrorist holds people hostage and demands a ransom, the recipient of the ransom note faces a wrenching choice. Paying the ransom may free the hostages, but the hostage-taker will be encouraged to do it again.Congress is facing a similar quandary. If it complies with the president’s demand for a $5.7 billion border wall, it may successfully ransom the livelihoods of the 800,000 federal employees he is holding hostage. But won’t that teach him he can use the same strategy any time he can’t get the deal he wants?
John Goff, Portland
