Posts Tagged ‘p.j. orourke’
P. J. O’Rourke: Drunken Power of Government
on Friday, August 13, 2010P. J. O’Rourke Money Quote compares teenage boys drinking behind the wheel to the responsibility of government with money and control.
“Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys” — P. J. O’Rourke
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In this quote, political satirist P.J. O’Rourke appears to be drawing a sardonic comparison between granting the government expansive financial and regulatory authority versus allowing reckless behavior by youth.
By likening giving “money and power to government” with giving “whiskey and car keys to teenage boys”, O’Rourke implies that both scenarios involve entrusting impressionable, inexperienced entities with resources and abilities well beyond their maturity level.
The quote suggests the government, like teenagers, may lack sufficient responsibility, restraint or wisdom and could potentially mismanage or abuse the vast means at their control.
Overall, O’Rourke seems to be criticizing the fallibility of large-scale government and casting doubt on its competence to judiciously wield significant economic and legal powers without oversight.