Things in the American economy weren't great before the 2008 bailout of the financial industry. But since the money was lent, and we're still in the deep red, shouldn't we want to know why big politicians and big business were in such a big hurry to get the money?

So much is made about the failing of American politics that one could be led to believe there's another, better system functioning somewhere else in the world. But, taken with its benefits, and the ability of politics as a tool of competent American governance, we could do a lot worse.