US lawmakers allowed a Social Security tax cut to lapse after Jan. 1, which shrank Americans' paychecks. Then they let deep federal spending cuts take effect in March because they couldn't agree on a budget.

The dysfunction peaked in October: Unable to pass a 2014 budget, Congress shut down part of the government for 16 days. National parks were closed. Many services were not available. Federal employees stayed home. The government even risked a default on its debt until, with just hours to spare, Congress reopened the government.

It looks like the lawmakers of the still leading, but defently weaker, economy in the world are still playing with fire and letting political fights shape the well being of their economy.