Ryan ChartrandFor the past eight years it seems that the general populace has been upset with the government. Bush held record low approval ratings, and the only acceptable opinion one could hold was one completely opposed to Bush. I propose that Bush is not responsible for our recent lack of faith in the government (and his approval ratings). The real culprit here is that Republicans held the Presidency, House and Senate simultaneously.
Our government was implemented with the idea of checks and balances. The House, Senate and executive office prevent each branch from holding too much power and becoming (more) corrupt. Unfortunately, party lines have become rather distinct. Democrats and Republicans follow party values based strictly on what their party stands for, allowing very little room for compromise. Consider the state budget crisis and the economic stimulus in Washington D.C. Both parties refused to give much in both cases since both stick like glue to the outlined party values.
America was upset at Bush because he was a figurehead for the government, but the real problem was Republicans controlling all of the executive and legislative branches. Corrupt projects, such as the bridge to nowhere in Alaska, resulted from this dominance.
Now we have the reverse problem: the left now completely controls those branches (with a rather significant majority too). For America to truly function we cannot allow one group that has very rigid values to control all branches of government.
Aaron Baldwin
electrical engineering sophomore