Is it any wonder fewer people trust the federal government than ever before? Is it any wonder that third-party candidates are coming out the woodwork or that the tea party movement has found traction?

Two stories Wednesday -- there seemingly are two any other day of the week, too -- make most Americans either cringe or scowl at what's going on in Washington. And the ire ranges from wasting billions of dollars to self-absorbed entitlement over pennies.

Exhibit A: An audit released this week shows the Defense Department cannot account for $8.7 billion -- with a "B" -- of the $9.1 billion in Iraqi money used by the United States to help rebuild the war-ravaged nation. Iraq is understandably upset.

"Iraq should take legal action to get back this huge amount of money," said Sabah al-Saedi, chairman of the nation's Parliamentary Integrity Committee. The money "should be spent for rebuilding the country and providing services for this poor nation."

As a whole, Iraqis already had ample reason to both distrust and despise America. Now, a people who could have become important allies have one more excuse to count us among their many enemies.

Makes you wonder how well the D.C. bureaucracy is handling the $53 billion in American taxpayers' money Congress voted to send to the Mideast nation this year.

Exhibit B: Rep. Barney Frank, the outspoken Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, pitched a fit over not receiving a senior discount on a ferry in New York. He was turned down because the ferry required resident ID to qualify for the discount.

"Frank made such a drama ... I contemplated offering him the dollar to cool down the situation," a witness told the New York Post. That taxpayer has paid Frank, who has been in Congress for nearly 30 years, plenty.

The 70-year-old, on his way The Pines, a Fire Island beach resort described thusly on its website: "... An island where everything is beautiful and possibilities are endless. It's summer perfected."

Frank, 70, would add that, despite receiving $174,000 in tax money in salary and uncounted legal lobbyist perks, no summer is perfect unless he gets his $1 senior discount.

There are two Americas. Count yourself lucky to live in the one that respects accountability, integrity and paying your own way.

Editorial by Ron Fields

rfields@dailynews.net.