The Washington Post has produced two columns that hit very similar themes. The first, by David Ignatius, talks of the California budget crisis in the context of continuing political gridlock between the two major parties. Ignatius hits a recurring point from both columns.

What’s worrisome this year isn’t economic decline but political dysfunction. And nowhere is that clearer than in California, where politicians — despite some serious bipartisan efforts — haven’t been able to make the decisions that would put the state on a sound financial footing.

The political forces that generate deficits are just too strong: a Democratic Party in hock to public-employee unions and a Republican Party in love with tax cuts. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger labored mightily in 2009 to close a $60 billion budget deficit, hammering out a plan that included $32 billion in spending cuts and $12.5 billion in temporary tax increases.

And yet there is so much polarization, and beyond that polarization is the desire to score cheap political gain when the governing party must make difficult decisions. Obstruct, block, and simply take positions that are diametrically opposed to positions taken under different circumstances, and you have a ticket to political and financial oblivion.

The second column, written by Ezra Klein, talks about the California dysfunction and how that same dysfunction has manifested itself in Washington.

Ever since Newt Gingrich partnered with Bob Dole to retake the Congress atop a successful strategy of relentless and effective obstructionism, Congress has been virtually incapable of doing anything difficult because the minority party will either block it or run against it, or both. And make no mistake: Congress will need to do hard things, and soon.

Yes, they will need to make exceedingly difficult decisions that will anger the base of both Parties. But who will step up and lead when it comes time to govern instead of seeking short term political gain? That leadership is not yet apparent.

Read the Klein column here.

Read the Ignatius column here.