Bipartisanship is overrated.  Especially in today's government-in-overdrive climate, I would like to make the case for principled gridlock.

I read the Washington Post editorial by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), lamenting the defeat of "conservative" Republican Senator Bob Bennett and calling for more bipartisanship:

"Working in a bipartisan fashion can lead to watered-down legislation, yes, but principled bipartisanship can also lead to a value-added, better result.  Personally, I believe that both sides can get much more of what they want by working together than by simply trying to prevent the other side from gaining ground.  By working with those with whom we don't necessarily see eye to eye, we are forced to work harder, to test our ideas and to consider solutions that we may never have thought of on our own.  Moreover, if Democrats and Republicans ever stop fighting each other, they might finally find the strength to defeat the interest groups that all too easily exploit the partisan divide."

Please.  At this point in my post it is important that I note I am not now nor have I ever been a part of the tea party movement.  Not that I disagree with the movement.  In fact, I agree with much of their agenda.  It's just that I have long believed that the federal and state governments are out of control.  I've witnessed the collateral damage at the local level, watching voters reject school levies, aging levies, parks levies because they can.

I've seen it in the unfunded mandates, fees and taxes foisted on us through bipartisan legislation created by career politicians who have lost touch with reality.  I've seen cities and counties and school districts struggle financially under the weight of wave after wave of new regulations and requirements.  The bipartisanship needs to stop before we go broke.  Instead, I would like to start a new rallying cry for gridlock.  If we can't repeal, at least we can avoid further damage.  I want to see a monkey in the wrench, sand in the ointment, a cog in the works and a hundred other techniques to shut big government down so we can actually get some productive work done.  Can't we just agree to disagree?

In reality, bipartisanship is not now nor has it ever been a death sentence for politicians; but it shouldn't be the goal of legislative activity either.  Here's to gridlock.