The United States of Banana Republics?

I’m a political junky and – almost unique among my tribe – also a believer in our political system.

Modern American democracy is messy, ugly, shrill, venal — and it’s better than anything we’ve ever seen before.

Imperfect? Oh, yeah. But over the decades, our political system has become steadily more inclusive, more transparent, and more fair.

Which leads me to this rather despairing moment. Surveys suggest that most Americans are feeling fairly buoyant over President Barack Obama’s opening months.

But it’s hard to feel upbeat about what’s happening at the state level. Our biggest state, California, is very nearly insolvent.

The state is being led by a former movie star who — while exceeding expectations — can hardly be the best and brightest leader available.

And it’s hampered by voters who seem to want more and more public services without paying taxes.

And then there’s New York. Ah, New York.

The turmoil in Albany in recent years has resembled the worst political melodramas of Argentina or Mexico.

Sex scandals, political coups, corruption probes. The current crisis was engineered in part by a Democratic lawmaker under indictment for savagely attacking his girlfriend.

Yeesh.

What’s certain is that behind all this childishness real crises and issues are growing and metastasizing. The pension fund shortfall, property taxes, the budget gap, farmer worker laws, same-sex marriage.

When Sens. Smith and Skelos resolve their idiotic stand-off, the bill collectors will still be standing at the door.