The U.S. has the political leadership that it deserves. Leadership that

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

is, in many senses, truly representative of the country, of what the bulk of people think and want.

True or False?

[StellaBlue]

1. that will be what the rest of the world thinks, for sure

and here in Texas, at least, I am inclined to agree

I lived in England from Sept. 21, 2001 til July 12, 2005. After the 2004 election, that was the prevailing sentiment among my English friends, relatives, and coworkers.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

2. I said "false" only because people DON'T think.

Most people are too wrapped up in their own little selfish lives, and unless they are directly affected (tortured, say), they don't pay any attention. So, we don't have the leadership we have because of thoughts and wants, but because of lack of thoughts and total obliviousness to what is going on. (Just like Bushco wants)

[tbyg52]

4. Exactly.

The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison

[Swamp Rat]

3. False

Bushler&Co have been stealing elections.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Politicians don't lead. They follow.

If the American people didn't want such things as the "war" in Iraq, torture, kangaroo courts, the loss of civil liberties, and all the other things foisted upon them that spell fascism, they wouldn't allow them.

Our fellow citizens have become "Good Germans" who would rather wave the flag and not know what is being done in their name.

[FloridaPat]

6. It has the gov't it deserves. That's because 60% of the eligible

voters don't bother voting or care what's happening.

Face it, when you're on a treadmill because wages are falling and prices are rising(even though there is no inflation) and you're in debt up to your neck - it's hard to care about what's going on somewhere else.

Here's an interesting interview about this very thing. Most people don't connect their misery with Washingon:

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/interviews/037

A BUZZFLASH INTERVIEW

... a lot of individuals who were very supportive initially of President Bush, started to say things to me like: it’s amazing you can pay so much money for a war. They didn't talk so much about how we could balance the budget, but that we were paying for a war, and we’re paying for things outside of the country, and not for things inside the country.

-- Nomi Prins

On the one hand, there's our government's policies, and on the other, there's the money or credit card tucked inside your wallet. Journalist Nomi Prins crisscrossed America to talk to people about what's in their wallets, and, in doing so, she found plenty of evidence of the impact of politics and policies on average Americans. Her new book, Jacked: How “Conservatives” Are Picking Your Pocket, shows the impact of "Republican incompetence and meanness" (Howard Dean's words) on real lives. Just as Studs Terkel delved into the world of Working, Prins explores inside Americans' pocketbooks. In so doing, she discovers a heroic American spirit -- along with real economic woes.

[Shipwack]

7. Quote from a user on another board...

"People get the government that they deserve. Funny thing is, I don't remember knife-raping any nuns..."