Looking to ourselves

Jacob Weisberg introduces some needed honesty into the debate about challenges facing politicians and Americans, alike, and their general reluctance - both of those groups, really - to take them on squarely.

Blame the childish, ignorant American people

"Our inability to address long-term challenges makes a strong case that the United States now faces an era of historical decline. Our reluctance to recognize economic choices also portends negative effects for the rest of the world. To change this story line, we need to stop blaming the rascals we elect to office and start looking to ourselves."

The first line is wrong, except as it reflects America's waning ability to get its way on any issue on the global stage (a positive development, even for Americans, who, believe it or not, do not have all the answers). On every other matter, America's future lies bigger and better ahead of her. But only after she learns about the limits of her use of power and manipulation to get her way.

But the last line is dead on. It's also what Jesus said, by the way, if anyone's keeping count.

And it is that advice - looking to ourselves - that offers the only real option for being better and improving our lives on every issue we face. Including the few that only government can be responsible for, really. And if we're not sure about which ones those are, how about we stick to government's original purpose - matters of security, domestic and international - and assume that the rest are our responsibility. Because they are and must be, for any real good to be done, no matter what government does or does not do.

That vision for the world, and America as a far humbler contributor, is one that offers much real possibility for improving life for humanity. After everything else has failed, I suppose. And the one that we will need to be responsible for, regardless, if we want our challenges successfully resolved.