--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most valuable function performed by…" description: "\"The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment.\" — Dave Barry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png" --- # The most valuable function performed by the federal… ![“The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment.” quote by Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png) > “The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment.” [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author humorously claims the government's main role is to provide entertainment. **In simple terms:** Government is seen as a source of amusement. Key Takeaway Question the role of government. Themes government entertainment critique Mood satirical critical Type humor observation When to use this quote - policy analysis - media consumption - civic education Key Concepts public policy media influence Questions to Reflect On - How does entertainment affect civic awareness? - What are the serious duties of government? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex governmental functions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Federal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal/) [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-entertainment-421959/) [Performed Federal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performed-federal-5428600/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Valuable Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-function-472184/) ## Related quotes > [“They may share certain cultural signifiers—money, a federal government, entertainment; it’s the same land, obviously—but the only things that give it the illusion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-may-share-certain-cultural-signifiers-money-a-federal-government/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [It's a very valuable function and requirement that you're performing, so have a great day and keep a stiff upper lip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/it-s-a-very-valuable-function-and-requirement-that-you-re-performing/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Your federal government needs your money so that it can perform vital services for you that you would not think up yourself in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/your-federal-government-needs-your-money-so-that-it-can-perform-vital/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I tell people view the federal government as a source of entertainment. It's a lot easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-tell-people-view-the-federal-government-as-a-source-of/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Government is the Entertainment division of the military-industrial complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/government-is-the-entertainment-division-of-the-military-industrial/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [This is government. There is no entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-davis/this-is-government-there-is-no-entertainment/) [Judy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-davis/) > [The federal government is our servant, not our master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-federal-government-is-our-servant-not-our-master/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [We already have two branches of federal government that factor political considerations into their decision-making, and our Founding Fathers determined long ago that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/we-already-have-two-branches-of-federal-government-that-factor/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [The federal government is way larger than it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/the-federal-government-is-way-larger-than-it-should-be/) [Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/) > [There are over 170,000 pages of regulations in Washington, D.C. I want to streamline the rules in the federal government to basically allow businesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-t-smith/there-are-over-170-000-pages-of-regulations-in-washington-d-c-i-want/) [Jason T. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-t-smith/) > [We can't expect Wall Street to police itself - that's why we have a federal government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/we-can-t-expect-wall-street-to-police-itself-that-s-why-we-have-a/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/the-federal-government-should-be-the-last-resort-not-the-first-ask-if/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Throughout American history many of our social gains and much of our progress toward democracy were made possible by the active intervention of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-washington/throughout-american-history-many-of-our-social-gains-and-much-of-our/) [Harold Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-washington/) > [Conservatism is about the basic rights of individuals. God created us. As far as the government goes, the Founding Fathers based the Constitution off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/conservatism-is-about-the-basic-rights-of-individuals-god-created-us/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [I made a promise to Michael Brown's parents that I would do everything to bring all of the resources of the federal government to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lacy-clay-jr/i-made-a-promise-to-michael-brown-s-parents-that-i-would-do/) [William Lacy Clay, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lacy-clay-jr/) ## More by Dave Barry > [This is true; virtually all edible substances, and many automotive products, are now marketed as being low-fat or fat-free. Americans are obsessed with fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-is-true-virtually-all-edible-substances-and-many-automotive/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The hardest thing about being a guy is that women don't accept that you really are just a simple, pathetic, labrador retriever-like creature. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-hardest-thing-about-being-a-guy-is-that-women-don-t-accept-that/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-ultimate-camping-trip-was-the-lewis-and-clark-expedition/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/although-golf-was-originally-restricted-to-wealthy-overweight/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Entire new continent can emerge from the ocean in the time it takes for a Web page to show up on your screen. Contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/entire-new-continent-can-emerge-from-the-ocean-in-the-time-it-takes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The major parties could conduct live human sacrifices on their podiums during prime time, and I doubt that anybody would notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-major-parties-could-conduct-live-human-sacrifices-on-their/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [If you look at any list of great modern writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'll notice two things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/if-you-look-at-any-list-of-great-modern-writers-such-as-ernest/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Don't you wish you had a job like mine? All you have to do is think up a certain number of words! Plus, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/don-t-you-wish-you-had-a-job-like-mine-all-you-have-to-do-is-think-up/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“Despite the gulf, physical and cultural, between the United States and Japan, both societies are, in the end, made up of people, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/despite-the-gulf-physical-and-cultural-between-the-united-states-and/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Before going on a diet you should consult your doctor, or at least send him some money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/before-going-on-a-diet-you-should-consult-your-doctor-or-at-least/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Never trust anything you read in a travel article.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/never-trust-anything-you-read-in-a-travel-article/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it "Christmas" and went to church; the Jews called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/in-the-old-days-it-was-not-called-the-holiday-season-the-christians/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Always remember that if editors were so damned smart, they would know how to dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/always-remember-that-if-editors-were-so-damned-smart-they-would-know/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) [Explore all 867 Dave Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More Entertainment quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Some shows just go away - and that's fine. They serve their purpose and their entertainment value, but there are shows that touch people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/some-shows-just-go-away-and-that-s-fine-they-serve-their-purpose-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [You will see a 3-D movie in a movie theater for the shared experience of it - or for a date, and so on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stringer/you-will-see-a-3-d-movie-in-a-movie-theater-for-the-shared-experience/) [Howard Stringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stringer/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [The fog of illusion, the fog of confusion is hanging all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-fog-of-illusion-the-fog-of-confusion-is-hanging-all-over-the-world/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [For me, there's cinema, which I love and would fight for, and then there's also entertainment, and I see them as very, very different.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/for-me-there-s-cinema-which-i-love-and-would-fight-for-and-then-there/) [Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/) > [My father's a taxi driver. Working in entertainment, is not a part of the culture. It's something you try to do before you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naughty-boy/my-father-s-a-taxi-driver-working-in-entertainment-is-not-a-part-of/) [Naughty Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naughty-boy/) > [If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labour, entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-the-idea-of-having-to-change-ourselves-makes-us-uncomfortable-we/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [(in the film "That's Entertainment!" - 1974) Thank God for film, it can capture a moment and hold it there forever. If anyone ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/in-the-film-that-s-entertainment-1974-thank-god-for-film-it-can/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [I know when I'm not dancing, and I go home, I usually work with my dad, who's an electrician. So I do stuff like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-macmanus/i-know-when-i-m-not-dancing-and-i-go-home-i-usually-work-with-my-dad/) [Tristan MacManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-macmanus/) > [Stand-up comedy in the end, unlike the rest of the entertainment industry, is a meritocracy. There's a certain level of undeniability you can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-comedy-in-the-end-unlike-the-rest-of-the-entertainment/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [We joke about it in the entertainment industry: Every actor wants to be a musician, and every musician wants to be an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-bass/we-joke-about-it-in-the-entertainment-industry-every-actor-wants-to/) [Lance Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-bass/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Browse all 3,057 Entertainment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dave Barry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-most-valuable-function-performed-by-the-federal-government-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Entertainment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-most-valuable-function-performed-by-the-federal-government-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbe/dave-barry-222_entertainment_the-most-valuable-function-performed-by_2298771.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most valuable function performed by the federal government is entertainment.” — Dave Barry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dave Barry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most valuable function performed by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-most-valuable-function-performed-by-the-federal-government-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-most-valuable-function-performed-by-the-federal-government-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```