Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Thirteen and Three


“The major problem—one of the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them. 
To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. 
To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” 
― Douglas AdamsThe Restaurant at the End of the Universe



This is not a condemnation of the current administration. It is, as I'm sure Douglas Adams intended, simply a comment on the political machine and/or the wanton desires of those who crave power and all the trappings that accompany it. 

Good ol' Plato, at work through the man who brought us The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy? I think so too. With apologies to Paula Cole, where have all the Philosopher Kings gone? I'll tell you. Well, actually, I'll let George do it. No, not that "George", or that other one either. No, I 'm talking about the man who could seamlessly transition from one side of the celestial coin to the other, all while smoking a cigar. Oh God, You Devil's George Burns:


“Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.” 
― George Burns

Do I want my barber or the guy who picks me up at the airport to sit in the oval office? Hell, no. But does George's sentiment allude to the idea that every person with an opinion, seems to think they can "armchair quarterback" their way into the White House? Laws, yes. M-O-O-N, that spells democracy (Tom Cullen from The Stand. Look it up) The thing is, our dear ol' Uncle Plato doesn't think that's such a good idea. He thinks that the ones who think they should, well, shouldn't. And I am in agreement there. I mean, really. Would a legislature full of people who would rather not be there get any less done than our current roster? Would the laws and regulations created by the "rather not's" be any more detrimental to the common good? Would the desire to end all the partisan posturing destroy the system that we've come to expect and loathe?

Nope.

At least I don't think so, but then again my fantasy league team has Arian Foster, Peyton Manning, and Megatron....