The latest edition of Cato's Letter prints a speech given by political humorist PJ O'Rourke.  Beyond the attempted humor, O'Rourke makes some excellent points about politics, points which reaffirm why I'm rarely enthused about the prospect of voting (and explains why I haven't voted for president since 1996 and find it very unlikely I'll do so this year).

Obama's big spiel this campaign is about changing, and bringing people together to solve our problems.  As O'Rourke says, "Trust me: we don't want politics to quit....Gridlock means government can't do things."  He compares bipartisanship to "my doctor and my lawyer agree(ing) with my wife that I need help."

All of these candidates plan to use the bully-pulpit of government power to tackle whatever pet issue they have.  All three of them speak out against corporate "greed" while demanding with a straight face that you place more of your money and freedom in their greedy little hands.  Hence why Congress is attacking the idea of controlling your own money.

This quote sums up O'Rourke's speech, and politics in general, perfectly: "The key ingredient of politics is the idea that all of society's ills can be cured politically.  It's like a cookbook where the recipe for everything is to fry it."

Don't expect the Republican or Democratic nominee to be going on a diet this election cycle, either.