"The country's on the 'wrong' track"?

This blog is rarely political, but sometimes delves into education, media and social issues that can't help but overlap with government and politics. That's because most people are tired of all the political claptrap, don't read it, and none of it seems to change anyone's minds.

Forest Park Railroad, Fort Worth

I prefer to write about traveling, photography, watercolor, books, education and more, as the past seven and a half years illustrate.
But the phrase about the country being on the "wrong track" has caught my attention more and more recently, especially in election year with such a polarized country fed by hatred, fear, and politics and media gone wild. 
Polls show a majority of Americans think the country is on the "wrong" track. What does that mean? 
Plus, given my love for anything to do with trains, and words, it just seems natural to write about it. 
Besides, I too think the country is sometimes on the wrong tracks, but you'll have to wait till the concluding article in these postings to guess why, though I won't tell you.
So I thought I'd do a little research into the phrase, using basic journalism questions.

• First question--Where did the phrase come from?
• Second question--Why? or (What is the "right" track?) or (Who gets to determine what is "right" or "wrong"?)
• Third question--What are the facts?
• Fourth question--unanswerable except by opinion perhaps--Is there only one "right" or "wrong" track?

"All a'boaaard!" (Next--first question, background)

 (Forest Park Railroad--Make sure your sound is on)