Frustrated Before My Time

Frustration has become a frustratingly common part of my life, as those of you who have read my previous column (shameless plug) already know. So what's got me so worked up this time? Well, it's probably the entire post-2008 economic crisis, which I affectionately call my adult life.

Now I'm going to open up to you guys, because I feel comfortable with you. I'm not really into politics. The last time I had any investment in politics was eighth grade, when I took up the defense of George W. Bush, because I felt people were picking on him a bit too much. Fast forward a few years, and I concede I've become a bit of a cynic. I don't trust politicians, and I don't really have that much faith in their ability to get things done.

I mean, tell me, why should I have faith in this crop of politicians, who have almost allowed the government to shut down twice in the past six months? Maybe they should have earned my confidence when they borrowed $787 billion in an unsuccessful bid to stimulate the economy… only to ask for a couple billion dollars more to do the same thing a few years later?

My friends and I used to hang out with a guy who would come out to dinner with us and order more food than he could afford. Needless to say, we all chipped in to pick up his tab, because, well, he was our friend. Once we figured out this was going to be a regular thing, we stopped inviting him to dinner.

The government is starting to seem like that guy, except we can't just conveniently forget to call the government when we all go out. What are we supposed to do? Move away from all the things we know and love to avoid the government, the way we avoided our freeloading friend? Besides, where are we going to go? Europe? That guy is broke, too.

It doesn't help that Occupy Wall Street, the most publicized voice for change, has attracted a contingent of people who live by a “stop snitching” rule (also known as “quit tattling” in kindergartens across the nation). It appears that some protesters have failed to report things such as the fact that they've been groped or had knives pulled on them. Oh, and did I mention that people have diluted the movement by protesting anything and everything while going on all-night drug binges?

I realize it might be hard for a protest to avoid hard drugs, the harboring of criminals, and lack of focus. But did Occupy Wall Street have to make it so easy for the press to discredit it? I can only hope that the movement can regroup and refocus. It would be nice to see it increase its efficacy and decrease… everything else. Including my frustration.