As the ancient story goes, whoever could untie the Gordian knot would become ruler of Asia. People tried for years without success, until one day Alexander the Great cut it with his sword and went on to conquer the known world.

Today, Washington is tied up in a Gordian knot of political gridlock. While Americans struggle to pay for health care, save for the future, care for kids and aging parents and achieve financial security, political leaders have become more polarized and less effective. Partisanship has trumped leadership. Gaining political advantage has become more important than solving the nation's problems.

I hear mounting frustration from AARP members and others across the country: "Why can't the politicians in Washington get together to solve problems we face every day?" As a governor recently told Congress, "Do something. Anything. Move."

Some say our politicians lack political courage. But that's not exactly it. They have plenty of courage to fight each other. But they lack the courage to put partisanship aside and work for the good of the country. … Back to Article