Actually, on second thought, this way of thinking may in fact have a lot of potential, here! For example, I recently purchased an $80 boxed set of Coltrane CDs of his famous quartet of the early/mid-60s from Amazon, a purchase my wife might, you know, view as suspect or criticize.
BUT, she could have stopped me, if she'd tried -- you know how that is, men! -- and she didn't, and, as a result, I bought it. Ergo,
Delmy caused me to spend all that money on that boxed set! 
It's her fault! I knew it!
And -- voilá! --
I am off the hook, ladies & gentlemen!
At the same time, I can console myself with my Chiefs' early and even downright embarrassing departure from the NFL post-season by remembering that the Chiefs
caused the Colts to get to the Superbowl. I mean, forget this guy Mann, Manson, Mannon, whatever his name is -- the Chiefs were in a position to have stopped the Colts but didn't, therefore we can under this approach conclude that they
caused the Colts' current situation. Colts fans can just send cash, if they like.
And I guess Ravens and Patriots fans can feel equally consoled.
Oh, but, hang on a second... Did they
all cause the Colts to get to the Superbowl? And hey, didn't the Colts themselves have
anything to do with it?
Aw, geez -- now I'm getting confused again...
Steve