"**say** they are concerned about unemployment and trade deficits but then block initiatives that would address those exact issues"

US politics no longer has anything to do with 'serving the people' - like professional sport, professional politics is Big Business, whose only Mission is to be re-elected, in order to keep their snouts in the Public Trough - and con as many 'tips' from their rich mates as possible. It's useful to have few public minded Fools wander in from time to time, as it helps keep the voters conned that there is any 'Public Service' in Politics.