It’s funny, but just when I think there’s simply no possible way to become more frustrated with our current state of affairs here in good old America, somebody (seemingly) goes out of their way to prove me wrong. Whether it’s a politician – on either side of the fence – a celebrity-turned-politician (the worst kind) or simply people in general, it seems this reporter can’t get a break from the inane lately.

Then again, maybe it’s just this lousy weather we’ve been having.

Regardless, I suppose that’s what you’ll have when you combine a widespread lack of common sense, our bizarre tendency for short-term memory loss and the almost unbelievable string of events which have unfolded in the last decade or so (not to mention Mother Nature).

Lately, I seem to have this tendency to react to certain happenings with an almost laughable blend of disbelief, anger and, as stated, frustration. It doesn’t really matter what’s at issue – politics, religion, war, peace (or lack thereof), the environment, gun control, socialism, fascism, the legalization of marijuana, gay rights, abortion, the upcoming 2012 election, the list goes on and on.

I’m more than a little fed up with all of it, personally speaking. Why, you ask? Because a little common sense every once in awhile would – more than anything – go a long way toward putting this country back on track. I know that sounds a tad simplistic, but a little more rational thinking on our part really wouldn’t hurt anyone, now would it?

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that I shouldn’t hold my breath at this point. Asking certain segments of our American populace to rely on something as simple as common sense – rather than their (oftentimes) misguided bigotry, complete disregard for intelligent discussion or any kind of compromise whatsoever – is probably a lost cause.

My apologies if I seem a little bitter, but this is something that’s been bothering me for a couple of weeks now. I suppose I could blame it on “30 Seconds” (if you’re a regular reader of The Evening Sun’s reader reaction column you know exactly what I mean), which I’ve always been completely addicted to (even before I began writing for our hometown daily), but I know better.

Actually, what’s really got me in this little funk is the continued insistence by certain individuals that our current president wasn’t born here in the United States, particularly businessman and television personality Donald Trump. You know, the whole “birther” issue.