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Is it just me, or does there seem to be a disconnect in our country between government and people? I grant that Watergate and subsequent revelations of powerful people behaving badly (can you say, Rep. Mark Foley?) have soured the
population's attitude towards its leaders, but I suggest that there is a growing problem here.

With the exception of now hokey super-heroes and comic book fantasies, America is captivated by the criminal hero - the guy or gal who is able to beat the system, defy the system, or declare outright war on it. Consider movies like the Godfather, the Matrix trilogy, mini-movies like the Sopranos, Bart Simpson, the list of highly recognizable pop culture icons goes on. Even Pamela Anderson's truly B-movie Barb Wire falls into this category. Sure there are shows like Law and Order, or CSI and their spin-offs and reinterpretations, but these don't serve to counter the imensity of the other point of view. (Would anyone think a Law and Order movie would do nearly as well as The Matrix?)

All of this romanitcizing about the "freedom" and "courage" of the outlaw hero creates an emnity between the protectors of actual freedoms and those they are protecting. It is now fashionable to despise the president of the United States and his entire administration - to vilify an elected official for enacting the policies we knew he would.

So what is my point in all of this? I wonder, at times, why so few people do anything about it. I wish instead of jumping on the "Bush-bashing" bandwagon more people went to the polls and voted. With the percentage of eligible voters actually voting so low, I am disgusted by the laziness of so many and the willingness (preference?) to yell and scream in righteous indignation about the ills our country faces and the failings of our political establishment when they don't do their part, their duty, to establish a government they believe will achieve the goals they deem important.

We have a Congressional election coming up. As a resident of the nation's capital, I do not have the opportunity and privilege to vote for representation in Congress. But I implore my fellow citizens to exercise this right, this power. If you are unhappy with the current political leadership, take control of your government. Help shape our future leadership, or else stop bitching when others do it for you.