Quote of the day

The timeless wisdom of Adam Smith, excerpted from An Inquiry into the Nature and the Causes of the Wealth of Nations:

The statesman, who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted, not only to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself to exercise it.

Unfortunately there is no shortage of folly and presumption in Washington today.