Saying "No" to the "Yes-Men"

I have a problem with "yes-men." The kind of people who play the game. They are all things to all people unless they no longer need you. Then you have to visit the E.R. to remove the knife from your back.
Because you think that they are genuinely good people, you go out of your way to help them. Being supportive, putting in a good word or two to the right people and so on. Then you realize that you've been used in the absolute worst way possible.
I've encountered far too many of these people. Especially during the past year. I thought that I was through with that business when I retired from the military. Wrong!
I also thought that I was over this whole stupid nonsense of the past year. Wrong again!
I feel like a fool.
It frustrates me that I allow these rotten people to affect me in this way. I see them and I immediately feel my blood pressure rise. It's like zero to 60 in 0.5 seconds flat.
It frustrates me even more because so many others do not see through them. I just want to shake them until their brains rattle into place so they can see the truth.
On the upside, yes-men cannot sustain forever. Eventually they show their true colors.
Meanwhile, I get to see them traipsing around with their disgusting, smug faces.
Lucky me.
Until the karmic circle does a return visit, I'll be marking time.
After all, what goes around does indeed come back around.
.