A Winter of Discontent

It was a long winter for most Americans. From unusually deep snows to disappointing progress globally on critical issues to the political gridlock in Washington, D.C., Americans were buffeted by a steady diet of disconcerting headlines all season. The upshot was a palpable sense of discontent across the nation, including a plunging faith in the ability of our government to solve pressing problems. The longer-term consequences of our discontent remain to be seen, though I suspect they will be significant. In order to chronicle the roots of these possible consequences, as well as convey the mood of the times for future readers, I offer here a lengthy sampling of wintry headlines and voices of Americans themselves.

The New York Times reported that in "a momentous decision that has been months in the making," President Obama has ordered an escalation of the eight-year old war in Afghanistan. Obama is sending 30,000 additional American troops to fight in the war (above the 20,000 he ordered into the field nearly a year