This editorial in today's Washington Post by Paul Light (entitled "Can't-Do Government") is really worth reading: 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401215.html?hpid%3Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR

I'm not sure about Professor Light's suggestions (I haven't thought through them yet), but he points to a problem that is oft-ignored because it's dull, but that may be the most pressing problem our democracy faces: the failure of our federal government to operate efficiently and effectively. While bad leadership (both from the President and from Congress) contributes significantly to failures from Katrina reconstruction to the Iraq occupation, the very structure of the federal government seems no longer to work.  Anyone who tries to drive to work near any major city understands how terrible our infrastructure has become. The roads can't handle the traffic and nothing is being done to improve the situation--either through improvements in the roads or, more promisingly, by expansion of energy-efficient public transportation. And god forbid you try to fly through O'Hare.

The complete breakdown in the ability of the federal government to work effectively is tragic. America seems increasingly ineffective, broken, like a third-world nation.  Improving the ability of the government to operate effectively is a boring topic--but it's hugely important to our future happiness and Professor Light is right to say that our Presidential candidates should address the issue with urgency, at least after they are elected if not during the campaign.