Our government being in a decline, and our representation being in a decline are two different things. I don't think we have had good leadership in a long while.

Our Government is begining to decline, due to rules and split opinions running things. Look at this instance(All facts are not 100% accurate, but they do illistrate my point - so bear with me): The republicans belive that Immigrants would be a great source of low income workers to take the smaller jobs that we don't take ourselves (they are out there, and this point is good). This gets the family in as a low income American, and lets them be better off than they may have been in thier own country. While the Democrats belive that these people then, as poor Americans, need several legs up so they can become 'standard Americans'. This gets immagrants free college, grace periods on Taxes, Free college gratns, no intrest loans, and several other benifits. Next thing you know, immagrants have it better than we Americans do, and the plan backfired. (This is really happening, as I have met several foreiners in college.)

The above example is not intended to pose my views in anyother area, save for the fact that our republic grows weak with split representation all getting thier ways in different areas. This is what I mean by the evil power of the filibuster. One side will use it (usually the minority) to draw out debates into sencless jibber-jabber. Eventually both parties buckle down and get a working agreement done. It just does not seem healthy.

/shrug
Bipper