Politics and Government

Government is about getting something done. Politics is about getting elected.
   One way to get elected and/or re-elected is to make the other candidate lose. And the way to do that is to prevent the incumbent from getting anything done, even if  it's something that your side has already proposed and endorsed. You certainly don't want the opposition to gain credit for getting anything done, especially if it's something that you want credit for.

   So to a large extent, that explains the situation in Washington. Whatever one side suggests or proposes, the other side says, "We're against it, it's un-American and will destroy the economy and everything loyal Americans stand for."

   Consequently, nothing gets done.