The next two weeks could be among the most exciting in our nation's history. Think of it: Despite all our flaws, we will once again engage in this amazing, and still almost unique, process where the balance of political power of the nation will be publicly displayed and absorbed – and end up dependent upon the will and approval of the people.

We call the conventions the emanations of "political parties." In truth, these are groups of Americans who link themselves together in ideas and ideologies, in ambitions and ambiguities, in dreams and drama, to see who we will put forward to rule the United States for the next four years. Soon, "the play" will begin.

Despite the excitement, with the Republican convention coming hard upon the Democratic one, the next president, no matter who he is, will find an American situation intensely changed from the ones our former presidents inherited. These changes are painfully difficult ones to address.

For example, he will not find a coherent military at his fingertips. The fact is that, deep inside, the Army is hollowing out.

The Washington Post reports how the demands on the Army for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have contributed dangerously to "a shortfall of thousands of majors, who are the critical mid-level officers." More and more officers are "getting out." Even more telling is the soldiers' own response, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics: Troops deployed overseas have sent six times as much money to Barack Obama as John McCain, and even four times as much to retired candidate Ron Paul.

The new president will find a country that may look as prosperous as it always was, but is not. His country is now essentially owned by China. Banks and huge investment houses, not to speak of mortgage lenders such as Fannie Mae, with its billions of dollars of losses in mortgages and its now virtually worthless stock, are collapsing.

The reasons are encompassed in two words: "regulation" and "accountability." Nobody wants to say it because everybody liked the man, but in fact the Reagan Revolution of deregulation of the economy has been disastrous. Men are not angels; they need oversight and control. That's where accountability comes. It's the old Protestant ethic that we no longer dare speak of.

He will find that the international organizations that the United States was central in forming in our glory days after World War II are seriously struggling: The International Monetary Fund just warned that global financial markets are "fragile," and the World Trade Organization's Doha negotiating round, after seven years of work, has failed, leaving world trade in a danger zone that is no less real for being invisible to most Americans.

And if he seriously looks at the war in Afghanistan, he will see nothing but danger.

In World War II, we were blessed with the dedication of our collective spirit. But this ain't World War II. The job will be long, sluggish and difficult, but utterly necessary. We need to pay off debts, keep out of adventurous little wars in obscure countries, and stop the immoral and unproductive gravy train running among our top CEOs. We need to redo ourselves from inside out – according to our Founding Fathers' moral values.

Here's the problem: This is just what we don't do well. But the truth is, it's going to take a new and profound approach, dedication and sacrifice by all of us, and especially by the next president. God bless America in these next two weeks – and certainly beyond.

Georgie Anne Geyer is a syndicated columnist. Readers may reach her through amcdermott@amuniversal.com.