How to understand politics

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.
-John Adams

‘If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.’
-Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.
-Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-Winston Churchill

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
– George Bernard Shaw

A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.
-G Gordon Liddy

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free!
-P.J. O’Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
-Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-Mark Twain (1866)

Talk is cheap…except when Congress does it.
-Unknown

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-Mark Twain

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

There is no distinctly American criminal class … save Congress.
-Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-Edward Langley, Artist (1928 – 1995)

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Thomas Jefferson 

Thanks Gene

A story about balance

God was missing for six days.  Eventually, Michael, the archangel, found  him, resting on the seventh day.  He inquired, “Where have you been?” 

 God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds,  “Look, Michael. Look what I’ve made.”

 Archangel Michael looked puzzled, and said, “What is it?”

 “It’s a planet,” replied God,  “and I’ve put life on it..  I’m going to call it Earth and it’s going to be a place to test  Balance.”

“Balance?” inquired Michael, “I’m still confused.”

 God explained, pointing to different parts of earth. “For example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity  and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor. Over here I’ve placed a continent of white people, and over there is a continent of black people.  Balance in all things.”

God continued pointing to different countries. “This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice.”

 The Archangel , impressed by God’s work, then pointed to a land area and said, “What’s that one?”

“That’s Washington State , the most glorious place on earth. There are beautiful mountains, rivers and streams, lakes, 
forests, hills, and plains. The people from Washington State are going to be handsome, modest, intelligent, and humorous, and they are going to travel the world. They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, carriers of peace, and producers of aircraft and software.”

 Michael gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked,  “But what about balance, God? You said there would be
balance.”

 God smiled, “There’s another Washington.  Wait till you see the idiots I put there.”

Thanks Denny