Is the US Senate edging towards the old-style collaboration, where people of different political persuasions actually try to pass necessary legislation? The good news is that Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat, has been quietly working in cooperation with Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republic, from Tennessee, to secure equal time for debate and freedom to offer amendments to relatively uncontentious matters like child care, sentencing and energy efficiency. This is how is used to work before the crazies got there. Maybe ordinary people are finally fed up with endless, futile confrontation and the message is gradually sinking in – we are paying you to address the serious problems the country has, not parade your ideology for 24 hour news channels.

Am I speaking too soon? Watch this space. Meanwhile, Epicurus, who hated “normal” politics, never said he disliked joint effort for the welfare of the people. He would admire Schumer and Alexander. May they not be run over by the know-nothing steamroller.