Hurray for divided government

William Niskanen of the Cato Institute sings the praises of divided government in the Washington Monthly:

Our federal government may work better (well, less badly) when at least one house of Congress is controlled by the opposing party. Divided government is, curiously, less divisive. It’s also cheaper. The basic reason for this is simple: When one party proposes drastic or foolish measures, the other party can obstruct them. The United States prospers most when excesses are curbed, and, if the numbers from the past 50 years are any indication, divided government is what curbs them.

Via Greg Mankiw. I wonder whether Prof. Mankiw will be taking this advice to heart and voting Democrat in the very close New Jersey senate race. Somehow I doubt it.