So it was more than violence and a natural disaster to undo the promised jump in retail sales for the Christmas season. It was the indecision of the fiscal cliff negotiations, many speculated. They may be right.

But it's not the uncertainty that's troubling. It's the fact that this is only going to get worse. The fiscal cliff agreement was an attempt to rise above indecision and it's a test that is proven progress is slowing to a standstill in this country, when it comes to political leadership.

Here's to a new year but we'll likely just be seeing the same problems. Only worse.