Mike Cox

Okay, boys and girls, mark it down; it's a done deal. Just after the summer solstice in the year of our Lord 2006, we are officially no longer responsible for our own actions. None of us. The final straw has been placed on the camel's back.

Recent wire service stories told about the latest diagnosed mental disorder. It is called Intermittent Explosive Disorder, defined as a pattern of explosive outbursts in response to everyday frustrations. There is treatment and, of course, drugs are available.

My brother used to suffer from it, but now he's better. I thought he got older and mellowed out. Maybe he was secretly visiting a psychiatrist and didn't tell anyone.

The disorder causes people to get suddenly angry. Road rage may be caused by IED. Women are definitely carriers. If you know anyone who can't control his temper, please encourage him to seek medical help.

This comes on the heels of another recent medical breakthrough identifying shyness as a mental illness. This one is called Social Anxiety Disorder. With the afflictions already on file, the plethora of TV commercials making everything from nervous twitching to heartburn a medical crisis, and recent court rulings, we can safely blame someone other than ourselves for anything that happens.

Don't misunderstand. I've been around people with mental illness. It is a terrible thing. Those folks need support and treatment. But today, we jump to any conclusion that excludes us as responsible and will medicate a yawn.

Some alarmists might wring their hands and lament the days of responsible behavior, but those of us in the know realize we are creating a perfect world. We just have to be sure there is someone to lay the blame on. Hopefully someone with deep pockets.

It starts with the children. Force feed them false self esteem, protect them from even the most minor setback, then blame the school system or others if something happens. When they turn into adults, they can take over. There are many examples to guide them.

People who have smoked for decades, buying packs with warning labels printed clearly on the sides, are suing tobacco companies for making them sick. A health advocacy group recently announced a lawsuit against KFC for using trans-fat to cook their fried chicken. I repeat, fried chicken . Does anyone go to KFC and order the two piece dinner with mashed potatoes and extra gravy, and not expect to get fat, clogged arteries?

It's easy to blame big business, politicians, and government officials. Rock and roll and TV have been taking lumps for decades, so we can still point fingers at them. Liberal California judges are also starting to take some heat.

See how easy this is? Just be careful. This whole blame game is a gigantic pyramid scheme. It will continue to work until the final rollover. Make sure you aren't in the last group when there's no one left responsible but regular folks like us. If you get stuck there, remember, it wasn't my fault.