by Ed Martin.

I learned early in life that “crap happens” and sometimes there is absolutely nothing one can do to prevent it, despite all the knowledge, planning, precautions, and risk assessments.   In recent times we have seen a number of things “blow”:

1. Katrina: an act of God;
2. The US economic collapse of 2008: triggered by acts of cumulative individual greed and a government policy that insulated people from the ramifications of their own decisions (Fannie and Freddie backing loans for people who had no business borrowing that much;
3. The BP drilling rig in the Gulf:  cause not yet known.

As predictable as ants swarming over a discarded tuna sandwich were the Congressmen and women who held press conferences, pointed fingers, assigned blame, convened hearings, and otherwise pounded the table while looking earnest into the cameras so everyone could know they were on the job and watching our backs.    It doesn’t matter what “crap” happened, this specter is as predicable as sun in Arizona.   It’s enough to make one vomit and question the worth of all these so-called leaders we so naively have entrusted with power.

Janet Napolitano’s comments that BP is not doing enough to stop the spill or address the mess caused me to shut the tube off especially coming on the heels of her statement that the Mexican border is as secure as it has ever been, something she now is totally responsible for.    The “ants” in Washington are now scrambling to hold hearings so they can yell at someone just as they yelled and cursed at Goldman Sachs executives last week.

My observation about all of this is very simple: many of these Congress people we see on television have been around for a long time.    Their job is to ensure that emergency management functions properly when there is a Katrina; political motivations do not compromise normal economic decisions about loan integrity; and to ensure that offshore drilling permits are issued with proper environmental safeguards.   All this is to be done BEFORE there is a crisis and if things didn’t work out then they, as much as anyone else, are to blame.

Frankly I do not yet know what to think of the BP mess in the Gulf other than what matters most right now is to stop the oil from coming out as it currently is.   Government, BP, and everyone else for that matter, should be figuring out a way to stop the 200,000 plus gallons spewing forth each day as fast as possible while trying to contain the slick that will most surely damage our shores, cripple commercial fishing, impact tourism and affect thousands upon thousands of people.   Napolitano’s finger pointing, congressional table pounding, and Obama’s smart alec assignment of blame are sophomoric and nothing more than a low class transparent attempt to insulate themselves from criticism.

But what about us?   This is not about them.   When do they start thinking about the country first?  Where ARE our true leaders?

What is clear is that the current political class is reactive to whatever happens in the news and quick to point the finger at others rather than take a good hard look at what happened, why, and address the question of whether these events were truly “crap” that happened or could they have been prevented if THEY in fact had done a better job at having foresight, wisdom, and knowledge to ensure that those things properly the function of government were working right?

Every day we see examples of how government has screwed something up.   It’s amazing to listen to these politicians throw stones at Arizona on the immigration issue yet continue to absolve themselves for their failure to secure our borders.

While they stand around pointing fingers, I, as an ordinary taxpaying American, would like to know when is it that we will hold these people who work for us accountable.    Hopefully, this year.