So first let me wax grumpy for a moment.<\/p>\n
I find myself surrounded these days by doomsayers\u00a0 — some of them on TV, some at the diner where I eat breakfast.<\/p>\n
A lot of people are convinced that the American experiment is, at the very least, running out of steam.<\/p>\n
Some think China is the next big thing, with its steamroller approach to industry and politics.\u00a0 Others think Americans have gotten too fat and self-indulgent to accomplish big things.<\/p>\n
Others grinch and fume about the state of our national politics.<\/p>\n
And it’s true that our particular style of democratic self-government is messy, noisy, crass, bombastic, and often about as thoughtful as a Jerry Bruckheimer film.<\/p>\n
But there are times like these last two months, when we are reminded why the Founding Fathers set things up this way, and why they were such geniuses to do so.<\/p>\n
First, the conservative Chicken Littles — socialism!\u00a0 new world order!\u00a0 stock up on ammo! — were shown the absurdity of their Glenn Beckian flutters when we held free, fair and orderly elections, resulting in yet another peaceful transition of power.<\/p>\n
No, the Black Panther Party and Acorn didn’t snatch the ballot from your hand.\u00a0 No, there weren’t hordes of Hispanic illegals stuffing ballot boxes.<\/p>\n
Then the liberal Humpty Dumpties — Obama’s a patsy!\u00a0 Republicans are fascists! Get thee to Canada! — found themselves watching an avalanche of bipartisan progress.<\/p>\n
During the lame-duck session Congress moved on progressive priorities ranging from civil rights (don’t ask don’t tell) to disarmament (the START treaty) to an economic stimulus (the tax bill) and healthcare (the 9\/11 responder bill).<\/p>\n
Yet despite the election and despite all this work, the latest post-election poll shows that only about 13% of Americans approve of the work that Congress is doing.<\/p>\n
My message to the other 87%?\u00a0 Get over it.<\/p>\n
Politics are messy.\u00a0 Sorting out the nearly endless array of interests and demands that face our society is a brutally complex business, especially during a painful recession.<\/p>\n
But our system remains the most transparent, fair, uncorrupted and enduring experiment in self-government in the history of the world.<\/p>\n
There are, obviously, big challenges ahead.\u00a0 Taming the deficit.\u00a0 Extracting ourselves from two increasingly unpopular wars.\u00a0 Rebuilding the middle class.\u00a0 Contending with stiffer competition overseas.<\/p>\n
Progress on those fronts won’t be smooth or graceful.\u00a0 Still, the last couple of months should stand as evidence that, warts and all, Washington can still get the job done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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