Rather than shut down parks, cancel Naval Academy football and furlough federal employees, we should refuse to pay any congressional salaries until a settlement is reached ("No shutdown deal in sight," Oct. 2). As a group, with the exception of a few, the U.S. House of Representatives is an embarrassment to the majority of Americans.

Let all those tea party members who are against government and the Affordable Care Act refuse their Social Security checks and Medicare. That would save a lot of money!

Norma McDonald, Bel Air