You're right. That's why we're probably better off w/ "gridlock" gvt. Its almost (but not quite) as good as them not meeting at all.
Gridlock does have its benefits, especially for those of us who prefer less government interference in our lives. The more time politicians spend in gridlock, the less time they have to pass unnecessary laws.
Seriously, what happened to the Republican party? I'm starting to look back fondly on the Clinton years (with a Republican Congress): "The era of big government is over." Who brought it back?