When it comes to solving the nation’s problems, why does it seem like solutions aren’t nearly as important as blame?

Sure, blame makes for spirited debates on the Sunday morning talk shows and gives politicians material for their fundraising letters, but mostly it just helps us quickly pick sides in the ideological fight for the country’s future — which may explain why no matter how how unique, unexpected, unusual or complicated the problem, the root cause always comes from the same list.

For Republicans:

• taxes
• big government
• unnecessary government regulation
• welfare
• flawed values
• the liberal media elite
• unions
• trial lawyers
• Bill Clinton
• Nancy Pelosi
• The pro-choice movement
• the “gay agenda”
• Hollywood
• liberals

For Democrats:

• big business
• greed
• de-regulation
• lobbyists
• corporate welfare
• George W. Bush
• Ronald Reagan
• Rush Limbaugh
• Sarah Palin
• attempts to overturn Roe v. Wade
• Fox News
• special interests
• evangelical christians/right-wing zealots
• conservatives