The sinking U.S.S. America

The ship of state is listing. A new Rasmussen Reports Poll finds that nearly half of Americans believe that elections are unfair. That’s the highest percentage since the poll started ten years ago.

Only 19 percent of those polled think the government has the consent of the governed and only seven percent think that Congress listens to voters more than party leaders. Seven percent.

What’s interesting to me is that poll after poll indicates that a large number of Americans understand the political problems we face, but that understanding does not seem to translate into action. Reality-challenged Republicans will still win congressional seats and be elected governors, perhaps even President. Truckloads of campaign cash from delusional billionaires are clearly trumping the will of the people.

We have a comatose Congress, a President under daily assault from the Right, a Supreme Court majority ruling as if this was the 15^th century, a mainstream media controlled by corporate interests, and a citizenry unable or unwilling to turn their anger into meaningful change.

The U.S.S. America is sinking, and unless you’re a billionaire, there ain’t no lifeboats.