I was reading one of my favorite books today. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

I had scarcely gotten through the first few pages when I realized that I'm no longer living in a world where that story is possible.

Arthur Dent, Hero of millions, maker of sandwiches, and all around confused person...

Would have been run over by a bulldozer at the end of page three, ending the story.

I read about how corporations (Collection Agents) will literally throw you in jail if you don't pay your debts... (Through some rather interesting legal maneuvering, but it's Legal, so there's nothing you can do about it.)

I remember rolling down a road in Iraq, wondering why the hell I was there, other than to draw fire. Apparently, I did such a good job at drawing fire that we declared victory not long after, and got the hell out.

I look at the thousands in the streets, protesting against policies set into place by those who actively went out of their way to avoid publicity... Those protestors were Tear Gassed, Pepper Sprayed and beaten.

I fear that Had Arthur somehow rolled out of the way of the bulldozer, he would have been sprayed with some noxious chemical, handcuffed and hauled off to the local lock-up...

The story could not be written today. Bureaucracy used to be stymied by forceful opposition. It could be a source of hilarity, a source of humor.

There's nothing funny about watching a bulldozer run down somebody with a legitimate complaint. Unless you're a Republican, in which case you're laughing your head off at the uppity librul getting what was coming to him in the first place.

The reason we should put severe, almost comedic restrictions on bureaucracy is that if we eliminate those checks... things get done... fast... and brutal, and unforgiving.

And we end up with millions of dead.

Which isn't funny. At all. Unless you're a very, very sick person.

(RIP Douglas Adams)

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s]