My typical response when I was in trouble as a child was, ‘Not Me’ or ‘I Don’t Know,’ when it came to who had committed the offense. Certainly, I was not the guilty party. I spent my time doing good for others. I countenanced no mean thoughts. I obeyed the rules of Neva J. The time I hit Pauly on his head with the butt of a toy gun and a goose egg must have been the stress of a four-year-old. On another occasion, I took Neva J’s red lipstick and drew all over the restroom walls while she was gone. She was unhappy with my art.

Not Me and I Don’t Know are alive today. Over my 26 years as a manager/administrator at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale, I encountered their antics on many occassions. When work was undone or in need of improvement, the two inventors lurked in the corner shadows.

Our leaders rely on “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” daily. ‘It is the Democrats’ fault, they say. The Democrats say it is the Republicans’ doing. It has become increasingly difficult to live in our time with skyrocketing fuel prices and inflation. Not my problem, President Trump says as he returns to talking about the White House Ballroom or a slush fund for the January 6 insurrectionists.

‘Not My Problem’ is a cousin to ‘Not Me’ and ‘I Don’t Know’. ‘Not My Problem ‘ is pervasive in today’s pass-the-buck world. ‘Let George do it,’ we say. ‘I did not cause the homeless girl to be in the condition she finds herself, we say as we pour another glass of Merlot. ‘Politics is politics, it has always been so,’ We say. ‘People need a little tough love or a freshly opened container of ‘Whoop Ass,’ We laugh as we cut the ribeye on Memorial Day.