As the nation’s politicians reconvene in Washington DC, they appear to have earned the contempt of a majority of American voters. The public believe Democrats and Republicans are equally to blame for letting economic policy slide dangerously out of control.

When asked who they held more responsible for the “fiscal cliff” situation, 27 percent blamed Republicans in Congress, 16 percent blamed Obama and 6 percent pointed to Democrats in Congress. The largest percentage – 31 percent – blamed “all of the above.”

And this is not just a private American matter. The rest of us are equally affected. Reid, Boehner, Pelosi, Obama are basking in the spotlight as they prepare a deal to “rescue” the economy. But if they do pull off a compromise at the 11th hour, they will hardly be greeted like heroes.

The waiting millions know what to conclude – this play-school brinkmanship shows we cannot trust the pols and the bankers to safeguard the economy. We have to protect our families and our finances for ourselves.

While companies like Apple Computers (AAPL) sit on tens of billions in cash thanks to pliable tax regimes around the world, the total indebtedness of the US government has topped $200 trillion. The national debt is $16.3 trillion. But include all current unfunded federal liabilities, and the number is $222 trillion, according to economist Laurence Kotlikoff.

There is one positive side-effect of the Fiscal Cliff: it demonstrates that living off-grid is a completely rational response to the situation we now find ourselves in.