I read an article years ago that put a demarcation line in US politics at the Ford presidency. The author argued that Ford was the last President who was as comfortable working with members of the opposing party as with members of his own. Since then, the erosion of trust has been almost complete, and our ability to work together has been impacted predictably.

I was once lectured on these very boards over my use of the word "compromise," as in why don't politicians compromise anymore? "Do you compromise," I was asked, "with those who insist that one plus one is three?" Ah, the binary simplicity of the engineer's world! It's almost a pity that people aren't manufactured components that can be urged into place via the judicious use of a mallet!