The great governmental shutdown in Washington turned out to have its utility after all.It prompted a substantial national debate about the role of government in our nation. It spurred an unusual surge of conversation about Congress, with Americans conducting a national civics lesson and actually examining the performance of their representatives. It raised eternal questions about the balance between conviction and compromise, about the equilibrium between resolve and responsibility.So, a muted cheer for all of those who stuck to their guns while endangering the nation's image, financial stability and role in the world.