Politics has totally stopped working

This one is 200 years in the making. The Republican presidential primary race has had more ups and downs than a rollercoaster (plus a larger-than-usual share of gaffes, shocks and horrors). And in the final wee hours of the year, Congress finds itself incapable of passing a tax cut extension that both parties essentially agree on. Things are only likely to get worse as the election approaches. It's like they aren't trying.

美国政坛停摆

这是一次200年不遇的事件。共和党总统预选的经历比乘坐过山车还要跌宕起伏（其间还包括不同寻常的失礼、震惊和恐怖）。在2011年最后的几个小时中，美国国会（Congress）发现自己无力弥合两党分歧，通过减税延长法案。随着总统大选的到来，局势只会越来越恶劣。而且政界似乎已经选择了破罐子破摔。