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January 20, 12:50 AMBoston Young Democrats ExaminerDan McDowell

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Well, Bush will be ousted in a matter of hours.  I for one am glad to see him leaving. I believe he's set this country on the wrong track in various areas. However, I dislike that everyone seems to be blaming it on Bush alone. It is not solely his fault.  He was fairly elected by the American people. All Americans of voting age at the time of the 2000 and 2004 election share a part of the blame. Bush was elected because of the votes cast by Americans, and thus he was able to enact his policies and goals. Granted they are goals that many Americans no longer believe in. However, the point stands. Americans are just as much to blame as Bush. Voters put him into office as our leader. Americans fell for his campaign promises and plans. Americans let him take a second term to continue his policies. We are just as much to blame as he is for putting him in power in the first place.

Hopefully Obama's presidency will be the beginning of a new American era. Rest assured it will take far more than four, or if things go well, eight, years to fix the mess America is in now. It'll take much longer than I think anyone is willing to anticipate. The responsibility to get this country back on track lies with us, American voters. We have to make sure the leaders we elect are capable and willing. We have to hold our leaders accountable for their decisions and plans. We have to begin holding leaders to their promises. If the situation changes, our leaders have to be willing to tell us why, in one way or another. The idea of a "flip-flop" in politics thoroughly annoys me. Leaders who are intelligent will be willing to change their minds given new evidence, but they should certainly inform the American people that reliable intelligence led to the change, and if possible, let citizens know what intelligence may have led to the shift.

In short, I hope we are moving into a new era of accountability. Not only for our errors, but for the American people. We are just as responsible as the persons we elect to represent our interests. It's time they are held accountable for their promises, and divulge any reason why their mind may have changed. It is time for the idea of a "flip-flopper" to come to an end. In everyday society we regard someone willing to change their stance given new evidence with respect, but once it's a politician they are no longer a "strong leader". It is time that we allow for a shift in our politics, and that we leave the apathy and complacency behind us.

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