If you approach one hundred people with the question: “Do you know what’s wrong with America?” you will get one hundred different answers. If you ask ten thousand people, you might get two or three repeats. I’d be willing to bet that not one answer in a million is: “Nothing”.

Everyone has very strong opinions there. What most people can’t accept—especially those with the strongest opinions, is that they are all correct (well, most of them). That’s where that whole “by the people” thing comes in. People talk about our freedoms of speech; expression; thought. That it’s our God-given right to hoot and holler if we don’t like something. And, of course, it is—even if that something is our own government.

But do you know what’s really wrong with America?

Americans.

Let me elaborate.

Any structure—be it building, credo, story, relationship, anything—requires three pieces to stand, to exist. It needs a basis, a foundation, a rock upon which to build. Which brings us to the next piece—some sort of progressive impetus, a supportive framework for the composition of the structure.

Unfortunately, we all know of empty structures, without “meat” so to speak. But even these have an edifice—a face the world sees regardless of its foundation, its framework, or its fabric.

Returning to the subject at hand— America —to apply these ideas.

America has an awesome basis—the best this world has seen yet, in my opinion. The Founding Fathers saw to that in the eighteenth century, in the form of the Constitution. Better than that, they knew their faults, they knew their limits, and they knew the impossibility of the needs of the people being static. They left room for us to make changes as we need, in the form of Amendments—a means for us to alter our governance without coup or revolution. That flexibility is the core of the strength of the American basis for government.

But we abuse it. Rather than making the changes that we need to when we need them, we waste the Amendments on things like Prohibition, meaningless things that have no place there, things that devalue the very concept of the Amendments. The basis is great—it’s up to us to make proper use of it.

Therein also lies some of the progressive impetus—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the ability to change the parts of the government that would impede on these, the ability to choose other than that which would hamper us in our daily pursuits. Again, it is up to us to find and follow the appropriate utilization of the framework that is already there. We must make the choices and follow the paths that will form our own destinies. We cannot expect to bend the wills of those around us toward our own ends—we must instead realize that these others are busy chasing destinies of their own. That is what that whole document is about—we must create our own happiness, and we must be free to do so, so long as our pursuits do not infringe on these rights of others.

America also has the edifice—the executive staff whose faces stand for all Americans in the eyes of many foreigners; celebrities who travel abroad for their work who may or may not realize they are speaking for the whole country as they interview, even as they work; the media, too, undergoes merciless scrutiny as increasingly portable technology brings their messages to all corners of the world. Riots occurred recently over reports of desecration of the Quran. Dozens were killed in these riots before anyone had even tried to verify said reports.

But the “meat” of America is Americans, and we are not doing our part. We are so vocal about the environment, abortion, immigration, the President, Iraq , Iran , France , taxes…and we should be! Remember our God-given right to hoot and holler!

But hooting and hollering to each other is useless. It gets our dander up, it makes us feel intelligent, it makes us feel like we are reaffirming that we are right. But right or not, the only product of our interpersonal debate is dander, and I think we all have more than enough of that as it is. Rarely does it serve to change anyone’s perspective (except, perhaps, of you) or inspire any action.

American legislature stagnates, forcing its way through mountains of petty bills and frivolous litigation without affecting any real change. The entirety of the country is railing, demanding significant change on the part of the American government, but the only change happening is the gradual inclination toward the puritanical.

Why?

Americans.

If you really have the desire to affect a change, and I know millions of us do, there is a way. The avenue toward change was paved more than two centuries ago. It was even the Founding Fathers who said that if we feel the government is oppressive, it is our right and our duty to overthrow it. But folks, we don’t need to overthrow it. It goes back to that whole ‘change without coup’ thing. We just need to get involved. “By the people” doesn’t work without the people. If you don’t want the Parents Television Council dictating what you watch on TV, don’t let them! If you think PETA is ridiculous, be just as loud!

Talk to me about politics, talk to your friends about abortion, talk to your coworkers about outsourcing, but for the love of your country, don’t stop there!! Talk to your Congressmen and your representatives, organize a group of like-minded people, start a petition, whatever you think you need to do!

But face it, being an armchair analyst is the equivalent of being a couch potato, a political vegetable. The Founding Fathers were counting on YOU to make their government right. Nothing changes here without due process.

So please, blather on like the idiot the members of the opposite political party think you are, but make sure you are blathering your way up the chain, too. Didn’t vote on it? Don’t bitch about it. You had your chance to put in your word. Didn’t speak up to your Senators? Don’t bitch about it. How can they represent your perspective if they don’t have it?

The silent majority is still only silent, no matter how loud we yell at each other.

http://www.freespeechcoalition.org/reach.htm

http://www.house.gov/writerep/