Today POLITICO.com carried a report entitled, "Poll: 81% unhappy with government."* The article states:
"A record-high number of Americans say they are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed, a new poll says.
An overwhelming majority of respondents, 81 percent, said that they are not satisfied with the governance of the country, compared with 19 percent who are satisfied, according to Gallup."
I read through most of the 50 blog comments provided by readers in response to the article. The majority were the typical bashing of one party or the other and playing the blame game. We must wake up to the fact that by engaging in these behaviors we are contributing to our own frustration and feelings of dissatisfaction.
We can play the blame game all we want. However, if we want credible change we must take a look in the mirror and face the truth that we are to blame. Politicians behave like they do, and the governing process unfolds like it does, because we let it happen. Every two years we can vote out every House member and 1/3 of all Senators. But, we don't, then wonder why we are dissatisfied with Congress and the governing process.
As long as we validate career politicians' behaviors with our voting patterns, they will not change those behaviors. It is only logical that they feel justified in acting the way they do when we re-elect them time and time again.
Only when we change our patterns of thinking and behaving will politicians change their behaviors. Only when we make elections the means of achieving accountability will we restore confidence in the governing process.
*The article can be found at:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64390.html
