Legend has it that once upon a time there were political leaders who kept an eye on re-election but spent most of their terms and energy doing the people's work.

They understood that winning office was just the first step in governance, that crafting legislation and setting policies to help their communities and citizens was their primary function.

If these mythical creatures did exist, they are no more, gone extinct like the dodo bird.

Lawmakers and elected executives have shed statesmanship and have become notional leaders whose goal is sustainability for themselves and others who, at the moment, serve them.

To that end, they don't do much. Few offer initiatives that might be difficult to achieve even when they are critically needed for people and economies to thrive.

Without much to show for themselves, their re-election then becomes a matter of making the other guys look bad, to demonize those who don't agree with them, painting them as unpatriotic, weak, stupid or hypocritical.

We let them do it. We let them twist facts, exaggerate negatives and just plain lie.

They've found they can rely on largely inattentive voters who will believe twisted facts, exaggerations and bald-face lies, who think sound-bite knowledge and shrill radio talk-jockey drivel is all the information they need to choose a member of Congress or a governor.

They know that if they simply throw out bromides—”;cut government spending, tax the rich”;—the placated, and the superficial ideologues will vote for them. Toss in a couple of “;family values”; and “;America, the beautiful”; platitudes and they'll skim off a few more floaters from the top of the poll pond.

Re-election is the end and the method for this is to avoid accomplishment, the excuse being that if they do something controversial and aren't re-elected, they won't be around the next time. However, when the next time comes around, they recycle the excuse.

We let them say this. We let the Calvin Says and John Boehners ditch civil union measures and health care legislation, not because these lawmakers and their cohorts really believe what they're doing is right, but because they want to maintain rank and privilege.

We let them distract us.

Sarah Palin scribbles talking points on her palm? Gee, gosh and golly. A million snarky-types log on to catch the video and check out the pictures.

President Barack Obama uses a teleprompter? Holy guacamole. There goes the image of the liberals' darling as an articulate fellow, sneer tea-partying panderers while reading speeches from teleprompters.

Put Swiss cheese on a burger? Elitist. Sport a ponytail? Pot-smoking counter-culture hippie. Belt out “;Copacabana”; on karaoke? Conduct unbecoming a governor.

Though none of these things matter in choosing a leader, political toxicity eventually narcotizes.

Talking about the wisdom of continued military buildup in a state with a fragile ecosystem will get mostly blank stares. Discussing the economic benefits of a ground-based rail system will bring shrugs.

We blame politicians for all that's bad, and that might be appropriate, but, really, isn't there enough blame to go around?