Read this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Flat-Crowded-Revolution-America/dp/0374166854/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222528238&sr=8-1

If you have never read any of Friedmans books, shame on you. He is an amazing author and someone I utterly respect. For the most part he remains outside of the political fray publishing articles each thursday on the economic and political impact of some world event. Over a course of several months he will follow an issue, travel a bit and comment on what he sees. If you have never taken in his articles each and every thrusday in the Liberal news paper The New York Times again, shame on you. There is much that can be learned from Friedmans comments.

In his most recent book he comments at length about how America has lost its way in the world, and spends more money and time focusing on isolationist & protectioninst infrastructure that we have lost our way in the world and more importantly our place among nations. We have fallen from grace as a result of this administration, thier policies and the total lack of realistic sence of self. We have become tangled in a war with no way out and have become saddled with a debt that you and I will be charged with paying off. Both Republicans and Democrats have now reached a place where they spend more time fighting with each other, and arguing of the details of the past they that have spent thier efforts looking into the past....rather than the future.

That simple perspective cannot be overstated, that by not making any sincere effort to be proscriptive rather than descriptive will accellerate our decline as a great nation. Friedman says that we need a new revolution for our country and a revolution focused on energy solutions. One of the reasons we have become entangled in the affairs of Middle Eastern (Petrol) countries is simply because it serves our interest in the persuit of natural resources. If you honestly believe this had anything to do with protecting democracy...or human rights...shoot yourself and save me the effort.

Friedman could not be more correct in his prescription for a successfull American future. We cannot afford to define ourselves any longer as living in a post-cold war, post-Vietnam era. But rather a Pre-renewable energy climate era as Freidman prescribes. If we cannot find some national interest to latch on to we stand to fail as a nation. Beyond the political party, or which presidential candidate wins...we need a change. Obviously you already know where I stand on the issue. We need a change in this country...not another cowboy in the Whitehouse.

Friedman's New York Times columnist page