Lions Led By Donkeys Or Tantrumming Toddlers Led By Teenagers? Poem by Mary Champion

We criticise our hapless governments,
who largely deserve the opprobrium,
while overlooking the inconvenient fact -
that it was us who elected them.

We may believe that we are wise and good
with ne'er a blemish to besmirch our soul,
believe our ‘common sense' is all we need
to solve dilemmas they cannot control.

But it is us, with our short-sighted views
who shape the actions governments will take.
They know that we refuse to face the facts
and so the Truth is spun and news is fake.

Are we all so saintly in our nature
we had no role in this disaster movie?
Have none of us been greedy or unkind,
or put our selfish pleasures before duty?

Yes, we're the ones who read the gutter press
and all the rubbish put about online.
It's us demand they keep our taxes low
then bleat when public services decline.

Our short-comings, magnified in them,
ensure the basest men will surge ahead.
That's why we lurch ‘twixt tragedy and farce.
'Physician, heal thyself! ' someone once said.