After all, it has become an article of faith that politics is less important these days than it once was. If it is less important, it is the Congress that is principally less important. The major job of Congress deals with making new laws. If there are fewer new laws in the next two years, or four years, things just go on. But things have been just going on.
Nothing happens, that is, nothing happens legislatively.
But, strange, as things have just gone on, the nation is doing better than ever. The economy has performed exceptionally well. Of course, it would be nice if President George W. Bush and the new Congress could agree on a few items and pass them into law. Perhaps we will get a prescription drug benefit for seniors that does not lead to price controls on drugs and consequent reduction in research and development by the pharmaceutical companies. Perhaps we could go toe-dipping into the world of partial privatization of Social Security, giving poor people the ability to accrue wealth.