We consider far too little God's providence over nations. He builds one up and puts another down. Through Moses, He reminded the people that it was God who gave them power to get wealth. Because, it has always been so that when a people prosper, they have a tendency to forget God and His laws. God did not hesitate to destroy Jerusalem because of its sin.
Character IS the issue.
Between humans the highest and most sacred vow a man can make is the vow to be faithful to his wife. If that vow is so easily broken, then why should we think he will keep the lesser vows of human responsibility. But, it seems to me, the great grief here is not the sin of our leaders, but the lack of outrage on the part of the people. Jeremiah the prophet speaks of a people, who have been so sated by sin, they lose the ability to blush. As a country, we ought to be wearing sackcloth and ashes, mourning over the state of affairs and praying to God for mercy.