Gov. M. Jodi Rell used the last annual State of the State address of her political career Wednesday to urge the General Assembly to end the rancor the two sides have created in recent years and help solve Connecticut’s fiscal and economic problems.

It’s past time — in Hartford and beyond.

The hostility in Hartford mirrors the situation in Washington, as well as that at New Britain City Hall.

Rising above it will take great acts of courage.

President Obama showed that courage last week when he walked into the proverbial lions’ den, speaking at a Republican retreat. Granted, he was motivated by the stunning loss of the Senate seat that for so long belonged to the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy but then, acts of courage are more likely to grow out of adversity than the opposite.

The result was a not-so-friendly dialogue, not unlike the "question time" British prime ministers participate in with Parliament on a weekly basis — but at least the two sides were talking directly, not through press releases and sound bites, and the talk was unscripted, perhaps even sincere.

It was a good model for what we need at all levels. As the governor said. voters ... "want an end to the theatrical histrionics of political press conferences and partisan pinball. They want us to act like adults. ...

"People are uncertain about the future," she added. "They are frustrated and angry about the present. And they have every right to be. The people of Connecticut are looking to us to help them. They are looking to us to lead."

Leading means more than attempting to get the political upper hand during an election year. Leading means listening, rather than posturing. Leading means addressing the problems that negatively affect the lives of our citizens and working with the opposite party to solve them.

In other words, we need fewer politicians and more statesman, fewer people jockeying for political advantage and more seeking long-term answers to the issues disrupting our cities, our state, our nation.