Americans Not Happy with Government

A new Zogby poll shows that two out of three Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction and fully 83% of Americans thing that Congress is doing a fair or poor job. For the mathematically challenged, that is an approval rating of just 17% at best for Congress--17 percent. My 20 month old daughter can count to 17--most days.

But despite their dim views of government, majorities of Americans remain upbeat about their personal finances and security, and nearly two-thirds are very or fairly confident their children will have a better life than they do.

Pollster John Zogby said the split between voters' views of government and of their personal well-being has grown in recent years, particularly after the failed federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

"Americans feel their government is not accomplishing the people's business," Zogby said. "They feel the system is seriously broken."

People are dissatisfied with govnerment, particularly the elected branches.

But still, I wonder how much of that dissatisfaction will be reflected in election next year. We are guaranteed a new President and I will go out on a limb and say that better than 85% of Congress running for re-election will win, if not more.

We aren't going to get a better Congress by simply wishing it away or hoping they get our message of dissatisfaction. Congress knows we are not happy with them, yet they act like idiots anyway. We have to vote them out of office if you expect any kind of sea change.