The United States is, as Noam Chomsky has said, a failed state.
The government no longer functions as a democracy, and has become authoritarian and largely chaotic.
In my opinion, there are two main reasons for this: the erosion of separation of powers and the breakdown of journalistic integrity.
On the issue of separation of powers, one could argue convincingly that the United States is run solely and entirely by the executive branch. The Congress has done absolutely nothing to stop the war (and did nothing to prevent it). It has done nothing to help the millions who live in poverty. It has failed to address the healthcare crisis. It has done nothing to ease the housing mess. The judicial branch has also become an idle, useless institution and has done nothing to stop the government's semi-official policies of torture and illegal spying. If anything, recent rulings have served to legitimize the Bush administration's abuse of power.
On the second point, I think the media have become nothing short of cheerleaders for those in power. Few journalists challenged the Bush administration's assertions that Iraq had WMD, and seemingly fewer still are willing to stand up to the administration today. They have failed to hold responsible those who lied to us, took us to war, and who are directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children as well as more for American deaths than those caused by the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks. They are just as complacent about issues such global warming, poverty, and human rights violations. The mainstream media outlets are now almost completely controlled by powerful corporations which have profit in mind, rather than an informed and educated public.
I have little hope that things will change even after Bush leaves office. He and his gang of criminals are certainly responsible for much of this, but more than individuals, the problem lies deep within our institutions, as well as the corporate culture of this country. Changing course will entail a long and hard battle against the rich, the powerful, and the misinformed.
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