Yippie! Americans Know When Something’s Broken…Our Government

By Lisa M on February 24th, 2010

In today’s global society, Americans have the short end of the stick. Somewhere between 9/11 and George W., Americans started to get a bad rap. Americans portrayed as ignorant bullies who are oblivious to what is actually happening in the world has been a common theme over the past ten years.

But the good news? This is starting to change. CNN came out with a poll this past Sunday that is sure to set everyone straight and ensure that the world sees us for the intelligent people we are.

Eighty-six percent of the American public believes our government is broken. See, France, Canada, The U.K.? We know when something’s broken.

I’d like to think that the poll reflects the following three observations:

1. We recognize that we are one of the last civilized nations to allow one in six of our citizens to not have health care. We know this is a problem.

2. We recognize that having nearly 10% of our workforce unemployed is not working.

3. We have the highest rate of child poverty in the developed world. Nineteen percent of our children live in poverty while 8% of France’s children live in poverty. (Canada holds second place in this contest.) How can a democracy allow its children to live in such horrible conditions?

However, I doubt this poll reflects any of these observations. I am well aware there are Palin-loving citizens who voted that the government is broken solely to illustrate their disdain for our current democratic leadership. Their vote that the government is broken will have little to do with our failing health care system, education system, or economy and more to do with the fact they think our government is turning Commie.

Beyond the Palin crew, I worry about the 14% of the American public who stated that the government is not broken. I’d like to meet the people who think the current state of affairs and how our government is addressing its problems is a-okay. My only assumption is that they didn’t hear the question correctly when the pollster called their house.

Photo via Greensboro Library