Crisis of Confidence: Section 1: Carter Listens to the People Summary

I've Got 99 Problems…But a Workable Political Solution Ain't One

  • Let's start off nice, because why not? President Carter begins his speech by reminding the American people how it was three years ago exactly that he accepted the Democratic nomination for President.
  • Aw…it's like an anniversary.
  • He then explains some things, like what the heck he was doing at Camp David for ten days.
  • Oh, that's what he was doing at Camp David: he was listening to Americans, all types—from political to religious leaders, from those at Wall Street to those on Main Street.
  • Carter then goes on to explain what Americans had to say to him during those ten days.
  • Long story short, it's more sad than happy, like how bad the economy is or how they want strong leadership, you know, that whole recession-talk stuff.
  • In fact, Carter strings together so many sad or depressing statements that it almost sounds like he's writing a country song, minus the parts about driving a truck or going fishing.
  • The main topic of complaints, for which Carter quotes the American people directly, involves the economy and the oil crisis.