The king wanted to go fishing,
and he asked the royal weather
forecaster
the forecast for the next few
hours.
The palace meteorologist assured
him that there was no chance of
rain.
So the king and the queen went
fishing. On the way he met a man
with a
fishing pole riding on a donkey,
and he asked the man if the fish
were
biting. The fisherman said, "Your
Majesty, you should return to
the palace!
In just a short time I expect a
huge rain storm."
The king replied: "I hold the
palace meteorologist in high
regard. He is
an educated and experienced
professional. Besides, I pay him
very high
wages. He gave me a very
different forecast. I trust him."
So the king continued on his way.
However, in a short time a
torrential
rain fell from the sky. The
King and Queen were totally
soaked.
Furious, the king returned to the
palace and gave the order to fire
the
meteorologist.
Then he summoned the fisherman
and offered him the prestigious
position of
royal forecaster. The fisherman
said, "Your Majesty, I do not
know anything
about forecasting. I obtain my
information from my donkey. If
I see my
donkey's ears drooping, it means
with certainty that...it will
rain."
So the king hired the donkey.
And thus began the practice of
hiring dumb asses to work in
influential
positions of government.
The practice is unbroken to this
date.
----------------------
"Some cause happiness wherever
they go; others, whenever they
go."
