Brown Accepts More Blame on Katrina - Yahoo! News

Ya think?

Look, scapegoats are useful. They present a solid target at whom we can vent frustration, anger, grief, or any other negative emotion. Brown was the wrong man for the job when he was appointed and did a lousy job when this first huge-scale disaster came along. But his qualifications were no secret BEFORE his appointment. And disasters happen ALL THE TIME.

We need to step up as citizens and take a more active role in the leadership of our country. If we don't like a proposed candidate for a federal appointment, speak up! Write your congressman, senator, favorite lobbyist, in-law's 3rd cousin who used to be a legislative aide on the Hill, whatever.

At some point, we have to recognize that this truly is a government "of the people" - meaning us. My grandfather used to challenge his daughters whenever they would complain about an unflattering photo that had been taken of them. He'd say, "it's you, isn't it?"

Well, we don't like this particular picture of the government, and with very good reason, but this government did not happen to us - we made it.

By the way, I voted for W. Twice. Didn't particularly like him either time but had my own, non-zealous reasons for giving him the nod. Brown, therefore, is partially my fault.

And yours.