The Tool Award: Because You Can't Please Most of the People Any of the Time

Watching the news this morning before heading to work, I found myself in disbelief at our collective ability to be so stupid. The news was trumpeting the fact that 60% of the American public disapproves of the President's handling of the economy. 60%! And what is responsible for such low marks? Maybe it's the near record high Dow. Or maybe it's the very healthy unemployment rate. The favorable housing market? The respectable interest rates? Low inflation? No, it's gas prices that "experts" claim are hurting the President's approval rating.

Now look, I know the President is our leader and so he gets the blame for everything. But the economy is doing very very well right now on pretty much all fronts. The only issue is the high cost of oil. But let's look at this logically. Is it the President who forces us to buy gas-guzzling SUV's? Is it the President who has stood in the way of EVERY effort to open up new sources of oil? Is it the President who made record profits from oil last year?

We are such a selfish and pampered bunch of babies. It's the plain and simple, ugly truth. You want lower gas prices? Then stop buying vehicles that require so much of it! Take a bus, or a bike, or maybe even a walk. Now, I know that there are many people who have to drive to work. That is the way of things. But shouldn't those people be looking for gas-efficient cars, such as Nomad did?

We want our cake and to be able to eat it too. But it comes down to this. It is our own fault that gas prices are what they are because we've refused to be moved from our comfortable lifestyles enough to actually challenge the oil industry. As long as we're willing to pay $3 a gallon, guess what we're going to get charged per gallon? That's right, $3.10. And then we'll get used to that and they'll raise it just a little bit more. If you're unhappy with gas prices, then I suggest you actually do something about it rather than whining and complaining about how the President is to blame. But then, that would require some real consorted effort on our part, wouldn't it?

And so for being lazy, and having the audacity to blame others for our own problems instead of stepping up and taking control, I award all of America with the Tool Award. Good job, America. You've earned it!