Tom Toles Cartoon: Money And Congressional Gridlock

In 500 B.C., Lao Tzu warned against cleverness.

Congress - particularly its obstructionist wing - has cleverly devised techniques to terminate quid-pro-quo collaboration. From filibuster (or threat thereof) through refusal to approve presidential appointments, there is no vestige of "loyal opposition" or greasy pork to oil the wheels. To the outside world, American "governance" looks like rival drug cartels warring over turf rather than getting down to the business of what can be done on the ground.