First were the Axis powers of World War II; then it was Korea; then Vietnam; then Russia; then China; then the Islamic fundamentalists who attacked our homeland and killed thousands; then Iraq, and finally Afghanistan. 

The end of the Cold War saw a change in Americans.  They had proven multiple times that America was the greatest power in the world, bound together against a common enemy, but they were beginning to tire of sending our soldiers across the world to defend other countries.  Their place in history was made. 

Americans who became adults after the Cold War ended focused on building a better life for their children, as the generations before them have.   They wanted a job they could keep for their career. 

As the economy prospered, credit became easier and easier along with the American dream of owning a home.  They found local bankers and real estate agents were approving them for mortgages at the upper edge of the buyers’ financial capacity, but all was fine because their futures were promising.  In no time, they would be able to refinance their terms to something more affordable. 

Americans believed their lives were guided by the invisible hand of the government, who would always watch out for them and provide an orderly and prosperous society. 

But they were not counting on unregulated business interests focused on greed, bundling good mortgages with bad to sell to investors, then repackaging to sell them again for higher profits. 

Then the sub-prime mortgage holders began to default on their mortgages, and as the wave increased, interest rates rose and refinancing became unavailable.  At the same time, the glut of new housing helped make all house values fall.  Americans now saw their dreams evaporate and they defaulted in droves. 

Many mortgage lenders did not have the financial cushion to absorb the loss of income and value from the deluge of defaults, and many stopped lending at all.  This impacted the many industries and businesses relying on revolving credit and slowed the economy to a standstill.  With business at a virtual standstill, employers went into survival mode and slashed their largest expense—employees.

It is no wonder Americans felt betrayed.  The government Americans had relied on did not realize the growing impact of hedge funds and investment banks as lenders that were not subject to the same regulations as banks.  Financial transactions became so complicated that almost no one understood the implications and risks of the transactions.  Even rating agencies had to rely on risk information given to them by the originators.  It was an unforgivable abandonment of responsibility. 

As the collapse intensified, the younger Americans became aware of the government that ran our country, and they did not like what they saw.  They had a different view of democracy; lawmakers and leaders should be competent, and actually do something for their pay and their votes. 

Instead they saw a gigantic bureaucracy that lives off the tax revenue, and provides little in return, except granting projects bartered for their individual states and districts hidden in bills with thousands of pages, passed by an elite, privileged member Congress. 

This anger ignited the passion of the multitude that swept Barack Obama into the presidency.  They voted for him based on one promise—he promised to change Washington and the way they do business.  He promised to end divisiveness between the parties and sign landmark legislation into law. 

And even though the new president immediately waded into the fray, promoting landmark legislation and inviting all sides to work together, he found the Republicans putting up a solid wall, publicly announcing their first priority was to destroy the president.  They would rather see the economy fail and take the American people down with them than contribute to a Democratic success.

Americans are angry that Barack Obama was elected president on his message of change, and although he waded into the problem with all his power and stopped America from its economic nosedive, the problem proved too big for him to accomplish on his promised schedule. 

They came to realize, in their new awareness of government that attack from common enemies can come from within their own borders, and betrayal from their own fellow Americans. 

They are angry that companies still export jobs and the government hasn’t done anything. 

They are angry that the promised changes haven’t come more quickly.  We have become a world of people expecting immediate gratification.  We are a people who still believe in working for a company until we retire, and feel betrayed that our employers don’t feel the same. 

Voters are also angry they don’t have more input into the legislative process.  They feel the promises made by politicians running for office can’t be kept. 

The voter of today is focused on the bottom line.  They want their Congressional “board of directors” and CEO to be competent.  They want “America, Inc.” to make good decisions that will advance the value of the citizen shareholders.  And they’re not getting their money’s worth. 

In 1994, Republicans swept into office promising fiscal reform and accountability.  By 2000, the 95 programs they had promised to cut, all remained and increased in total cost by 13%. 

In 2006, Democrats swept into office promising fiscal reform, accountability and an end to deficit spending; and most know where we are today on that issue.

The continual bickering and the slowness of steps taken to recovery are unacceptable.  Americans are angry with ALL politicians, spending billions on projects the people don’t completely understand, while the individual is trying to scrimp pennies. 

A recent poll showed that about half of all voters are angry about the federal government. 

And incumbents better watch out.  Voters can fire them.  The apparition of impending downfall has led 11 Democrats and 9 Republicans in the House and 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans in the Senate to announce their retirement.  Defeated in primaries were 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans in the House and 1 Democrat and 2 Republicans in the Senate.    

In national polls, one after another, Americans are expressing nearly equal levels of disgust for both parties in Congress.  The role of the independent is rising; to choose the best person for the job. 

Voter anger has all but killed the open town meeting with overheated emotions, confrontations and finger pointing from purposeful political disrupters that wind up on You Tube.  Politicians instead are holding invitation-only voter meetings, telephone town meetings, or touring workplaces in a controlled environment. 

Republicans are all in on voter anger. They have one and only one strategy for the 2010 election.  They are counting on the voters being so angry that they forget who made them angry in the first place.  Anger transforms feelings of powerlessness and creates an illusion of power and control.  Republicans want voters who are not interested in objective information, but only talk to reinforce what they believe.  And this is the year of the “mad as hell” voter.

It is most likely that the Democratic majority will diminish and both parties will have relatively equal forces.  Voters will send a message that both parties have failed.  That will give Republicans a negative mandate, rejecting the current state of affairs but not endorsing the Republican slate.  And the next two years will most likely be stalemated. 

Election Day is November 2.  Be a citizen.  Show up and vote.