From ABC News –

Only 26 percent of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll say they’re optimistic about “our system of government and how well it works,” down 7 points since October to the fewest in surveys dating to 1974. Almost as many, 23 percent, are pessimistic, the closest these measures ever have come. The rest, a record high, are “uncertain” about the system.

After the financial melt down of 2007, a full three years now, there have been no prosecutions and no arrests. After British Petroleum created a unimaginable ecological disaster, it was supported and protected by the government, particularly the White House. After two years of countless illegal foreclosures, a study from an agency of the Federal Reserve concluded that there were no illegal seizures of homes.

The government has lost the ability to protect the American people or articulate any vision of the future not based primarily on corporate or financial interests.

The government is a body that has become independent of citizens as constituents.

Today, after unprecedented developments, we are likely to experience a meltdown at one or more nuclear plants. This was considered virtually impossible just a few days ago. Yet, …

(Reuters) The White House said on Monday President Barack Obama remains committed to keeping nuclear energy as part of the energy mix despite concerns about its safety after the earthquake in Japan.

Let me see if I understand this. The White House says we are going ahead with nuclear power “despite concerns.” Wouldn’t it be better to wait and see if there is a meltdown? Or do a study of what went wrong?

You might think that reality should have a place in technological decisions. But the decision has already made. A number of Americans will make huge amounts of money from these nuclear plants and no event can be allowed to interfere with those investment decisions.

Why would anyone be surprised that Americans have little faith in the government? The United States government is like a train that is no longer interested in where the passengers want to go. As far as they are concerned, someone else is paying for the trip.

James Pilant