A friend of mine likes to argue that the US has so many political problems because it has never lost a war, and thus never was forced to adopt radical changes. Remember, Prussia only became a modern state after being beaten into a pulp and then occupied by Napoleon - and sixty years later, it was mopping the floor with some of the most powerful states in Europe.
I pretty much agree with this. Americans crow a lot about America because we've never tangibly had our asses handed to us. It is a mentality I'd love to punch a large, bloody fist hole through. And I live here. I'm so sick of hearing about how exceptional we are despite the data showing we're not. The only exceptional things America does anymore is: entertainment (depending on what kind we're talking about) and making war.
RE: Judges. I don't think the problem is that they're elected by popular vote.
It's that most people don't pay attention to what they do, and tend to rubber stamp them on election ballots when their time comes. I know I've done that. Below the primary candidates for office, and the special issues on the ballot, you get a lot of places for voting on minor county/state officials, and judges. I don't know these people, usually, what their politics are or what they've done. I think that reflects the experience of most American voters. Judges get a pass often because, unless they make the news for saying something
really stupid or abusing their powers obviously in court, no one cares.
I generally agree with the principle that judges should be elected rather than appointed so they can retain their judicial independence....but I feel like they need special elections all their own, divorced from the usual county/state elections. That might give both media and the people more time to figure out who these people are, and whether they deserve a vote.