The failed rescue of the financial industry has raised a whole series of questions about responsibility, blame, transparency and a public revolt against putting taxpayer money at risk. The American public seems hell bent on assigning blame to a variety of forces and sees itself as a victim. The painful truth is that the American public brought much of this financial crisis upon itself.

Ultimately, the responsibility rests with voting public that has traded in its only bargaining chip in favor of rigid ideology and blind political allegiance. In 1952 a struggling military strategy lead to President Truman leaving office with one of the lowest approval ratings in presidential history. In 1968 and equally ineffective military strategy caused the sitting president to not even run for re-election. However; in 2004 the Iraq war's missteps were already evident yet a majority of the public was willing to give the President a pass. President Bush's credibility was already seriously in doubt prior to the 2004 election but it didn't seem to matter because he had a level of backing that would support him regardless of any evidence. It is really irrelevant whether John Kerry would have been a better equal or a worse commander-in-chief. Unlike previous elections the public did not hold the sitting president accountable.

Within seven months of the election (even before Katrina) Bush's approval rating began a steady decline as if the voters were having buyer's remorse. Consequently, when it came time for the President to make a pitch and put his credibility on the line, he didn't have any. His supporters had abandoned him as if they could just wash their hands and make their earlier decision go away. The Republicans in Congress and the people they represent should have had the guts to support the President they stood behind unquestioningly. This isn't a marriage where a spouse can bail out at any time. The President is elected for four years, not three. In not holding the administration accountable in 2004, they have helped produce the problems of 2008. If the voting public punishes leaders for bad decisions they reduce the risk of politicians making those bad decisions. Thanks to blind allegiance, this option has been traded away in favor of spin, patriotic fervor, and a range of side issues that are a distraction from what is really meaningful. Karl Rove has been praised a brilliant political strategist because he was able to get George W. Bush elected two time in spite of his limitations. In reality, he simply convinced the public to buy a flawed product with no warranty and no right to return it. America is now finding out the consequences of buying damaged goods simply because of the advertising.