P. J. O'Rourke Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Whatever it is the government does, sensible Americans
would prefer that the government do it to somebody else."

by:	P. J. O'Rourke (1947-2022) US humorist, journalist, & political commentator
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Categories:	Government, Humor, Politics, Trust
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Reader comments about this quote:

-- Logan, Memphis, TN
Compelled compliance, license, enforcement of victimless crimes, larceny (funny money, from labors, etc.) torture for information, enforcement of statutes that are contrary to law, etc. comes to mind. -- Mike, Norwalk
Inane "humor" like this causes unnecessary disrespect for organizations local, state, federal, and yes international that provide needed services to humanity. As soon as someone is in need of help due to a natural disaster, financial stupidity, etcetera they call on those entities that they have been maligining so carelessly. Human nature and the public have no limit to their depravity. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
I have yet to find a single necessary service provided by government which could not be provided privately, in greater quantity, higher quality, less expensively and without theft. Some people are accustomed to being the state's slaves and dependents, that they cannot see any other way. Yes, people run to government for certain services, those in which the government has the monopoly and there is no other practical option as a result. -- Bryan Morton, Stuart, FL
Waffler, people call on government when in need because governments have set themselves up as the church to go to. I'm headed down for about 4 days or so of hurricane relief with the church I attend (at my own expense). With all the Katrina and other help I've given I find far more churches and independent entities helping than I do government. The current financial stupidity was government sanctioned. -- Mike, Norwalk
Waff, thanks for telling me you are not from Arkansas,(yesterday). This information raises my respect for Arkansas. P.J is exactly correct and who , in his right mind, has any respect for government. Governments excell in robbing and inslaving it's citizens so fear of government is more appropriate than respect. -- jim k, austin
Bryan is absolutely right, and so is Mike. When we are shielded from the effects of folly, we will fill the world with fools. People around the world whether they are Americans, Canadians, Europeans, yes, even those we think of as our enemies, invariably come to the aid of those in need WITHOUT government. The government tries to get the credit and the monopoly on 'goodwill,' but in truth government is the most wasteful spender with little to show for it. It may surprise some to discover the purpose of government is borrow and spend, borrow and spend -- it is designed to waste without oversight. But follow the money to where it actually goes, then you'll understand what politics is all about -- Bush/Cheney and his buddies have reaped nearly a TRILLION dollars all 'borrowed' on the backs of Americans (and that is just one example). Bush's tenure has stolen more money from the American people (and a few other countries, too, I might add) than any other president in history except maybe FDR who legalized the theft of the entire country's gold money supply. I wouldn't expect anything different from Obama, McCain, or Congress. No one even considers the Balanced Budget Amendment any more -- what does that tell you? -- E Archer, NYC
It will take my lifetime, even eternity, for this fact to change. Capitalist-socialism, its a moral dichotomy. How does this all come about? Proof is in the pudding. -- RKA, Wasilla, AK
Can any of you all explain why "government" has existed for all these thousands of years, if it is so unnecessary and so evil. I know of no where in the world from the smallest aboriginal villages to the largest nation where "government" does not exist. What the hell really gives with this dicothomy between reality and your rantings and ravings about the fact that governments even exist? I respectfully suggest if all "governments" were disbanded overnight, one day later new ones would be established. The King is dead long live the King. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
Waffler, is your real first name Don and do you live near wind mills? What are you talking about? You seem to be carrying on a conversation with your self. I'm pretty sure there are no perfect anarchists here. Most here simply want a government of law vs. the government that now infests this land. -- Mike, Norwalk
Amen Mike! -- RKA, Wasilla, AK
Bryan states "no government needed" so why Mike do you say a "government" of law is needed. If law is natural why do we have to even talk about it and have government. What about the government that infests every land, what have you to say about that. -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas
That was fun... -- RobertSRQ
The United States, when conceived, and later formalized by the Constitution was a beacon of light unknown to the rest of the world. The United States became the greatest nation on earth because it uniquely recognized the sovereign nobility of the individual and was dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal (not just when one was in a majority but, equal at all times). The individual of 'We The People' was king, caesar, and supreme, being united by law with liberty and justice for all. Each and every, any and all rights were given of a Creator, making all rights to the corporeal being, inalienable as a faculty of birth. The world has once again sunk into a deep dark and ugly age because there is no longer a nation that recognizes such nobility of man. -- Mike, Norwalk
Government, as an extension of the sovereign, is needed to set in order, with justice, the affairs and associations of the sovereign, as he can not do everything himself personally. Government is also needed by despots to lord over their victims. Law is natural and, the reason we have to talk about it is so that, we recognize what it is conceptually, finitely, and in fact and how best to apply it to our given society. Murder is the law but too broad to be prosecutable without definitions. Fiscal laws must be defined for application. etc., etc., etc. -- Mike, Norwalk
I like the irony of this quote. Waffler, the first part of explanation you asked for can be found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson et al did not address why exactly a government might become "evil and unnecessary", only what the people can do about it when it does. The why is probably human nature. Also, Bryan never stated "no government needed". Please be careful with the quotation marks and stop being so obtuse. -- A.WOODS, Gloucester
A.WOODS waffler can not be any thing but obtuse. He is a leftist. -- warren, olathe

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