Buck Lawrimore

America is in dire straits right now. The economy is in chaos. Gasoline is in short supply. Unemployment is on the rise. How could our advanced country be in such a mess?

The answer I believe is that the country and its economy have become too complex for unskilled Congressmen - or presidents for that matter - to effectively manage this giant system. American government is far more complex than any corporation. Yet look at the skilled, experienced managers running GE, IBM and other top corporations.

By contrast all you need to get elected to Congress is enough friends and supporters to vote for you. All you need to get elected president of the United States is a few years as governor of a state - a piece of cake by comparison - or a senator, also easy by comparison. There is no real “survival of the fittest” or meritocracy that rewards excellence in government service. Instead the ability to wheel and deal, to make a good impression with the TV cameras, and other “Hollywood” characteristics play a much larger role in determining presidential elections.

Because of the global economy, the complexity of financial markets, and the impacts of unpredictable natural factors such as hurricanes, our country can fluctuate wildly between prosperity and disaster. Whoever is at the helm - president - when things turn bad gets the blame for the whole mess, although in fact market forces (a.k.a. greed) have as much to do with our problems today as any presidential policies or lack thereof.

The only long-term solution is a better way of preparing and electing Congressional representatives and Presidents. A radical change is needed  in our democratic system, which after all was invented in the 18th Century, before electricity for heaven’s sake. Now 250 years later it just doesn’t work any more. The American system is broken and cannot be repaired without radical change.