Government Bureaucrat Quote of the Day
April 8, 2008 by elcap
Yesterday the Institute for Justice had oral arguments in an economic liberty suit out of Pennsylvania. In a classic case of public choice theory, a politically-connected cartel has teamed up with bureaucrats to limit competition.
In particular, a government agency is forbidding a popular summer camp from continuing its 31-year tradition of safe whitewater rafting simply to protect the financial interests of a local rafting cartel.
Today, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has coverage of the argument, including interviews with the IJ attorney, a rep from the summer camp, and a government bureaucrat. These quotes are so wonderful you should really read all three:
IJ attorney: “The DCNR needlessly ended a Pennsylvania tradition that has taught courage, teamwork, leadership, faith and good citizenship.”
Summer camp guy: “Camp families are entrusting us with their children because they know the experience we provide, and we don’t want to pass that off to someone else. Our purpose is to provide education, adventure, challenge and development of character, whereas a commercial outfitter just puts them on rafts like cattle cars and sends them down the river as fast as they can. We take them to experience all the river has to offer.”
And now, I shit you not, the actual quote from the government bureaucrat: “We have complete control over the four outfitters … and we get a piece of the action.”
You’ve got to hand it to the guy for being honest!
I love how government bureaucrats are at least honest with themselves.