Who do you get angry at over the state shutdown?

Do you blame Gov. Mark Dayton? Gosh, if he would have just taken the deal the GOP legislators offered right before July 1, Minnesota wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Do you blame the Republicans who control the Legislature? Gosh, defending millionaires from having to pay their fair share is unconscionable.

Neither of those arguments place the blame where it belongs. It’s clear that both parties deserve blame and so do the people who put them in power.

One real problem is a lack of true leadership among people going to politics. The most talented leaders don’t as often pick such a noble course with their lives like they did for generations in America. In fact, running for elective office is not seen as a noble service by many folks anymore. That said, there are some stars in the political arena on both sides, just fewer than one or two generations ago.

Another problem is the voters. Anyone who decries the lack of leadership among state and federal leaders must remember who sent them there in the first place. Voters are letting the extremes dominate the political parties, and the moderates of American politics have lost a voice. If only more moderates would find their way into party meetings and gatherings to put forth more middle-of-the-road platforms and if only moderates would stick to a path — the political pendulum keeps swinging every two to four years — perhaps then some work would get accomplished.

So if you plan to place blame over the government shutdown, or even over the federal debt default crisis, be sure to spread the blame around at everyone, top to bottom, elected officials to supporters to opponents to voters.

Otherwise, let the blame game be over, and let’s all get back to the task at hand.