Why the Outrage?

I am completely baffled. I just don't understand why so many people are upset by our elected officials. Shouldn't we be giving them a break?

We, the American people, have put ourselves in our current position. To be intellectually honest, we have decided that government is the answer to all our questions. You would think that after Bush we would have understood that government, whether it be Bush or Obama, Republican or Democrat, is not the answer. We refuse to realize that self-governing is the answer. We would rather have politicians handle the "tough stuff."

How many times must we watch our officials squander tax dollars before we get the message? Everyone is upset about Wall Street, big-business bailouts, and the apparent lack of regulation that lets Madoff bilk the investors out of their life savings. Wake up people! We are just as, if not more, responsible as our politicians for the situation we are in.

Here's what I know. There are some good politicians. There are horribly bad politicians. But all politicians share one thing in common. We put them in the positions they currently hold. They were not promoted based on their job performance, or individual merit. Most of the American public cannot even name their two state senators. They show up at the ballot box, look for Republican or Democrat, or Independent next to the name and pull the lever. They are then content to gripe about the very politicians they just elected.

We hear ads, and self-promotion telling us just how wonderful, or wonderfully bad, this or that politician is, and we believe it. Consider this. If these people are such business, financial, and entrepreneurial geniuses, why are they running for office? Why aren't they making the big money and running successful businesses? Do you honestly believe that a business guru would rather run for a thankless, underpaid public office? So why do we so eagerly believe these people can run our country? We don't. We just show up for the elections, undaunted by our lack of due diligence, and pull the lever next to the name of the person who had the better marketing plan and nicer clothes.

So why the outrage? Why are we complaining now? We elected the very people we are upset with, and acting surprised they can't handle the job! We are an amazing collection of people! It may hurt to hear, but "We the people" have put ourselves in this position. So get over yourselves. Suck it up. Stop the whining, and embrace the fact that knowledge, much like hindsight, is brilliantly sharper after the fact.