The Messiah

The tributes to Steve Jobs were amazing. Flowers, candles, and apples--his company's store fronts became for a few days shrines where pilgrims could honor his spirit. This outpouring of affection for a brilliant, arrogant businessman struck me as odd. Are people really that attached to their iPads?

Perhaps. But I wonder if something else isn't going on.

We've been searching for a secular messiah in our country for some time now. I count myself among those who saw in Barack Obama the promise of a leader who would deliver us out of our mess. The Republican party, as it lurches from one presidential candidate to the next, is trying to find its messiah as well: Mitch Daniels, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Chris Christie, Sarah Palin, won't someone (other than Mitt Romney) ride in on a big, white horse?

Enter Steve Jobs, an American genius and entrepreneur whose products sell all over the world. Think the United States is in decline? Well, think again. Steve Jobs kicked butt, developing one new design after another. Take that, China.

The trouble is, Steve Jobs isn't and never was going to solve our massive problems for us. No one is, and the sooner we realize that no messiah is coming the better off we'll be. Which makes the Wall Street Occupiers all the more compelling. Inherent in their demonstration is the realization that no such messiah exists.

It's "we the people," stupid; this is the mantra we must tack on our walls.