During the mid-1980s dairy farmers decided there was too…
“During the mid-1980s dairy farmers decided there was too much cheap milk at the supermarket. So the government bought and slaughtered 1.6 million dairy cows. How come the government never does anything like this with lawyers?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote sat the absurdity of government intervention in markets, contrasting the easy removal of surplus cows with the protected status of lawyers, highlighting inconsistency in policy enforcement.
In simple terms: Governments can easily eliminate excess milk but not excess lawyers.
Key Takeaway
Question why similar actions aren’t taken against other professions.
Themes
government
economics
law
policy
market intervention
Mood
ironic
critical
satirical
Type
political commentary
humor
When to use this quote
- agricultural policy
- legal profession
- government procurement
- market regulation
Key Concepts
public choice
regulatory capture
professional privilege
Questions to Reflect On
- What professions receive similar protection?
- How could policy treat surplus labor fairly?
A Different Perspective
Lawyers enjoy legal protections and lobbying power that prevent similar government actions.