'old America' is a funny beast, McGrath..we spend 300 years absorbing complex mixtures of people from practically every culture on earth while trying to operate under a form of government designed to let everyone have input to the format and policies, and we still get questions that seem to be amazed the we can't operate in a cohesive, organized way on most issues. (That is, until something like Pearl Harbor happens.)

I suppose life for many here is almost too 'easy' to worry and think everyday....some seem to feel that "it will all be ok..it always is".

We have almost no mechanisms for changing government between elections..(yeah, recalls in states, and impeachment if it gets TOO bad)..so many people don't see any clear need to 'wake up' more than once every 4 years...and THAT process has become so pre-digested and tedious that it is boring! (and I suspect the the powers that currently be would just as soon keep us snoozing while they continue to automate the "democratic process" so as not to disturb our naps.)

uh....that IS what you asked about, isn't it? :>0