It seems that public opinion has little do government policy.

I have been worried that American's are too divergent from the rest of the world, but my travels have suggested otherwise. The majority of American's favour things almost everyone does.

There isn't much easily available, but there's enough to point to some serious defects in 'the system'. Surveys on what Americans think about policy are not frequently published, when they are, they rarely include useful domestic policy indicators. As i said, there are studies out there which show what "most Americans" want. So when someone next uses "most Americans" this or that - ask them for some evidence and show them yours.

It's little wonder that so many Americans have lost faith in their institutions. It's a shame that a country so hell-bent on exporting democracy has nearly lost their own constituents belief of America's ability to implement it at home [Gallop]

It is little wonder that the Republican mantra of "small government" has been so well indoctrinated in the publics psych. Successive generations have seen so little action of their wishes that they fully expect their government to be unable to deliver what the public wants. The situation is that the government is quite simply unwilling to act in the interests of the community at large - because the community at large is not who is in charge. The famous economist Adam Smith, who is arguably the father of economics warned of this situation when he said "National interest is the interest of the principal architects of policy" (paraphrased). The principal architects of your democracy have been hijacked (ie, it is not the majority opinion of American citizens).


Republicans: Be aware - most Americans don't want what the leadership says they want. And they do want what the leadership won't do for them. "Where federal spending was going up, the public wanted to go down: military spending, supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan; where spending was going down, the public wanted to go up: social spending, health, education, veteran's benefits, renewable energy, support of the United Nations peacekeeping missions, on and on." [Chomsky]. You can dismiss Chomsky as much as you like - the facts are still pertinent [Chicago Council - Executive Summary].

Democrats: Your leaders have failed you. DEMAND reform. When Obama has a free-market (and Wal-Mart) champion Jason Furman as one of his economic advisors, you must be wary. This is nothing wrong with Jason's point of view, as long as it doesn't pollute what you voted for - Change. Obama also was a Chicago Uni lecturer, which is where the free market revolution was essentially launched against much of South and Central America. Keep him accountable.


American's want more (peaceful) international engagement. American's want to be held to the same standards as other people from other nations. Policy direction is polar opposite to what American's want.

Time to make some serious demands of your leaders, people.