On the one hand, politicians are assumed to be universally lacking in common sense and any genuine connection to the real world that the rest of us live in. Whilst at the same time, we assume - through expectation - that they will, or at least we expect that they should, get on with running the country. This paradox of assumption leaves us in a perpetual state of frustration that is of our own making. By and large we enjoy a peaceful existence in this country compared to many others, the UK is relatively stable, but it seems that the price of stability is complacency.