How did we get here?

According to the New York Times/CBS News poll released today, Americans are more dissatisfied with the country’s direction than at any time since the poll began asking about the subject in the early 1990s. Eighty-one percent of Americans think this country is on the wrong track – Democrats and Republican, men and women, city and rural folks, college graduates and those with only a high school degree.

Only 28% of American’s approve of Republican President George W. Bush’s job performance and most American’s blame government officials for the current economic crisis. The Democrats control both the House and Senate.

What are the sources of America’s pain? Whereas in December most Americans cited the Iraq War and terrorism as their main issues  of concern, today only 17 percent named terrorism or the war while 37 percent named the economy and the job market as the reasons for their dissatisfaction.

Many say they are barely managing to maintain their economic status and can’t get ahead. A host of respondents expressed fear for the future of the next generation.

Not a happy picture to be sure but it begs the question who should we be blaming for this state of America’s affairs?. Should we be blaming our leaders for the straits the United States finds itself in today? Or should we the people be blaming ourselves?

I contend that it’s time Americans start taking a long, hard look at themselves. It’s time for Americans to begin taking responsibility for the state of the nation.

At the core of America’s problems are the people we have been choosing as our leaders and the reasons we choose them.

The legacy of  John F. Kennedy, the first handsome, charismatic and inexperienced modern-day president, is that we now choose our leaders based on  style not substance. Like a Third World Nation we pick change over innovation - the every new broom sweeps clean meme of government. As individuals we become followers not leaders as we vote en masse for the hip, slick and cool over the tried and true. Wonkish is out; instead we cast our votes as if we’re picking the most popular kid in the class.

Here’s what you get when you base your vote on for the highest office in the land on cute, adorable, sexy, charming and inexperienced: the economy tanks, the war rages on, the dollar isn’t worth a penny, the value of your house declines, the cost of your healthcare skyrockets, the price of gas explodes, the national debt rises to the moon, many can’t find a job, and our air remains unbreathable.

There are those who would argue that experience doesn’t count because, after all, the inexperienced President Bush is surrounded by experience. They refer specifically to Vice President Cheney. For all the jokes the fact remains that George W. Bush is President of the United States, not Dick Cheney, and more than half of America voted for him - twice.

The culture of Washington needs fixing; there are few who would argue the point. But if you don’t  know the inner-workings of the government then you won’t know how to alter the culture. Change is an inside job.

America is at a crossroads. We have lost the respect of the world. We have to make changes. But America, the change starts with you. You want real change you can believe in? Start thinking  about issues, and know that  substance counts. Start thinking about experience, it's critical.  Start thinking about who is BEST PREPARED to make the changes we know we need.

America, electing the President of the United States is not a popularity contest, it is serious business. We can’t afford to make another mistake.

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