Americans Don't Want Change

America projects an image of bold decisiveness. But while we deploy our troops to foreign soil without batting an eye, we're paralyzed when it comes to broad domestic changes, except in the throes of crisis, Neal Gabler writes for the LA Times. Sure, we make all the right resolutions come election time. But then? "An economic stimulus? Make sure it is a small one. Health care reform? Half measures. Climate change legislation? No action at all," Gabler writes.

Democrats could hardly have had more of a mandate for change after the 2008 election, but Americans quickly reverted to form, Gabler says. "The Republicans'—and the tea partiers'— successes only underscore how much of the nation is terrified by any action whatsoever." So "while Americans cling to their self-image of intrepidness here in the home of the brave, we are on target to demonstrate at the polls that we are anything but." (More America stories.)