CNN: Scary Numbers in America

CNN today ran a report on some new disturbing statistics regarding the state of our country. (You'll have to watch a Dodge commercial before getting to the actual clip.) The numbers reveal that the United States is struggling when it comes to education, healthcare, caring for the elderly, and keeping people out of poverty. And, as many of us know all too well, wages in the U.S. are stagnant while expenses are increasing rapidly.

While issues such as education and healthcare are very complex and are affected by several factors, our government has to be held at least partially responsible for the negative direction in which the country seems to be going. I don't think we can place the blame on one administration or one party; but I do think that our elected leaders, by and large, have put politics ahead of leadership. In recent elections candidates have not run on their record or ability to lead but on reasons why they are better suited for the job than their opponents. American politicians are so wrapped up in defeating their opponents (both in elections and in the public eye) that they haven't seemed to put much effort into bettering the country.

In 2006, when you vote for your U.S. Representative and (possibly) Senator, don't vote for a candidate based on his or her party or based on anything you see on a cable news channel. Dig deeper.