I have no explanation for why the finest young talent in American music, Adam Lambert, lost the American Idol competition. He is so far ahead of all the others that you have to wonder.

See how the rest of the world responded at the New Straits Times.

The USA exports culture and financial services. Well, at least we used to export financial services.

If you heard Adam sing...

Mad World

If I Can't Have You

Whole Lotta Love

A Change is Gonna Come

Born to Be Wild

Or perform with Kiss

...you cannot believe he did not win this competition. Hell, I think Robert Plant and Christina Aguilera would have a hard time beating this man. He is stunning. 21st Century Elvis. And the American people cannot even get it right.

This is scary if you depend upon voters or preferences to determine outcomes in our society. Problem is, I do not know of a better system.

Rob Johnson is a Senior Fellow and the Director of the Project on Global Finance at the Roosevelt Institute.