Nobody is proposing that we "put the oars down". We're proposing to eliminate the people paddling downstream. Even if many of us are paddling upstream, it does no good when half of the people are still paddling down, thus canceling out the effect of the "upstreamers".
You're never going to make any progress paddling upstream so long as there are a significant number of downstreamers. Progress will be made by kicking the downstreamers out of the boat, or at the very least getting them to put their oars down. That will tip the balance back in our favor and allow us to start making progress.
This is what "gridlock" is, though.
Gridlock is a situation where we are not paddling.
BUT WE ARE STILL GOING TOWARDS THE WATERFALL.
