A great quote to contemplate as the idiots in Washington fiddle.

Somehow I got on the distro list for The Nooner, a daily email blast from The Hayride: A Commendatory on Louisiana Politics. Part of it is the Quote of the Day and I received this earlier this week. As the idiots in DC are showing why they are not competent to mow a lawn, this seems to be appropriate.

"It is not by the intermeddling of [English poet laureate] Mr. Southey's idol, the omniscient and omnipotent State, but by the prudence and energy of the people, that England has hitherto been carried forward in civilization; and it is to the same prudence and the same energy that we now look with comfort and good hope. Our rulers will best promote the improvement of the nation by strictly confining themselves to their own legitimate duties, by leaving capital to find its most lucrative course, commodities their fair price, industry and intelligence their natural reward, idleness and folly their natural punishment, by maintaining peace, by defending property, by diminishing the price of law, and by observing strict economy in every department of the state. Let the Government do this: the People will assuredly do the rest."

- Thomas Babington Macaulay, Southey's Colloquies on Society, 1830

The idiots on Capital Hill get corrupted on what they are sent to do. To borrow the phrase from another great philosopher, "Politicians are like diapers. They must be changed regularly, and for the same reason."

UPDATE: Another great quote of the day, inspired by the former Republican nominee.

“I’d rather be a hobbit than a troll.”
- Rand Paul, on John McCain.