Did anything good come out of 2011? As 2011 comes to a close, it’s easy to look at the American political landscape and see nothing but smoking ruins. The economy is a disaster. Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on how to get it going or on how to reduce the deficit. Gridlock plagues government to an unprecedented degree. But things can’t be all bad, can they? Did anything good happen in politics in 2011? Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, debate the issue.

Don’t go out and get bombed on New Year’s Eve.

I attended a meeting in Washington on Dec. 13 that marked the one-year anniversary of the founding of No Labels, an organization whose goal is to break gridlock, foster conversation and end to hyper-partisanship in government.

It’s time for us Mainers to feel good about our state and ourselves. The year 2011 may be one to delete from the memory bank, but as it comes to a close, we have much to be thankful for.

Two weeks ago, I wrote a column comparing upcoming tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy with the proposed cuts to health care programs that harm Maine’s most vulnerable.

Good news came recently in the form of an actuarial report.

“How small, of all that human hearts endure, that part which laws or kings can cause or cure.”

WASHINGTON — House Republicans, on the eve of Tuesday’s vote denying tax relief to 160 million Americans, huddled in a conference room in the Capitol basement for more than two hours.