No complaints? No chance

Tomorrow is officially designated as a day for giving thanks. But despite the bipartisan efforts of two U.S. House members from Missouri, today is not officially designated as "Complaint Free Wednesday." And despite the indisputable power of positive thinking, it would be wishful thinking to expect many Americans -- or many human beings of any other nationality -- to go an entire day without griping.

Yet Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, with the support of Republican colleague Sam Graves, recently made this upbeat -- or is it simply naive? -- written case for easing up on the rampant negativity:

"Complaining keeps people stuck on current problems, inhibiting them from thinking constructively to find solutions."

Huh? Though we hate to complain about Rep. Cleaver's logic, without complaints, few problems are ever solved -- especially by Congress.

Rep. Cleaver hailed his notion of a "complaint free" Thanksgiving eve as a way to spread "the spirit of hope, optimism and positivity." However, his proposal didn't generate a positive response from his House colleagues, who last year rejected the same pitch from Rep. Graves.

Hey, if you want to avoid complaints on this or any other day, don't go into politics.

And though we hate to complain again, while elevating "hope" and "optimism" is a fine goal, "positivity," while technically a word, sounds as if it shouldn't be.