Thanks Obama (for giving us Trump)

Because yes, Mr. President, it’s your fault the pendulum has swung so far back that the Republican candidate is going to be a school-yard bully with so little self-awareness that he is immune to criticism for the inane things that come out of his mouth.

But you are not alone in your responsibility for this mess.

This in on you, those who voted for Hope and Change, twice, like so many lemmings who couldn’t be bothered by multisyllabic slogans that actually mean something.

But blame also lies on everyone who supported the Tea-Party. You decided that radicalism and divisiveness was the way to fight back at the liberal do-gooders, those who think that the government knows how to spend your money better than you do.

Bernie and Hillary, you too are responsible for the man you will be running against in November. Instead of fighting the status quo, you decided to double down on it (Hillary). With someone the polar opposite of, but equally insane as, Trump, the left have gone so far in that direction their only other candidate is actually a socialist.

So thanks, Hollywood, who throw rocks from their glass houses shouting about wealth redistribution and growing the middle class when they make millions to play make believe. Good work Sean Penn, as you travel the world denouncing the country that has made you rich and famous. And Michael Moore with your $50 million net worth as you call for the rich to be jailed.

This is on you, self-entitled millennials. For some reason you are under the impression the world owes you something, including but not limited to free college tuition, a high-paying job to keep you in expensive bourbon and city apartments, and safe spaces where freedom of speech comes secondary to your feelings. All of this while believing that heavily taxing the people who hire you, sell your bourbon and build those apartments will achieve those ends.

Blame also lies on apathetic young-professionals who have unappreciatively enjoyed the fruits of our democratic, capitalistic society. Those afraid to pat themselves on the back for working their butts off to pay for college, then through sheer hard work and talent rise from entry-level jobs to excel in society and earn the single family home and that expensive bourbon. Many of whom are so afraid of being called racist or ignorant that they naively buy in to this idealistic vision of a utopia where all share fairly and share alike, forgetting the hard work they put into getting where they are.

Social media certainly plays a part in the embarrassment of our current political climate. The vocal minority now has a pulpit more accessible than CNN to bully and deride people who think differently than they, giving credence to these extremist politicians.

The media, long since indifferent towards actual news, has officially flipped their format to reality television. The loudest, biggest buffoons get the best ratings, ergo the most coverage.

Finally, I have to take my share of responsibility. I’ve laughed along with everyone else at The Donald, sure that common sense would eventually prevail, and a real candidate to lead this nation would emerge. I was wrong, and shame on me.

So now we have to do the one thing that has fallen by the wayside in this country. We have to be accountable. We all have to shoulder responsibility for the mockery and shame this election season has brought onto our country. And do something about it. Bloomberg? Romney? Biden? Can anyone save us now?

— Andy Symonds is the author of “My Father’s Son,” a novel about the son of a Navy SEAL whose father is killed in Afghanistan.