And you thought that bureaucrats only covered their own rear ends!

Major trends do not always arise in the United States, Europe, or Japan. As the Southern Hemisphere gains influence, we can anticipate developments in warmer climates propagating northward like, for example, killer bees or the Bossa Nova. (Note to Younger Readers: the Bossa Nova was a Brazilian dance that entered the U.S. during the 1960s. It was executed to the sound of really excellent music, but rapidly lost traction to the elegant Mashed Potato.) Now, Dear Reader, we can look to Venezuela, the socialist paradise, for a truly remarkable precedent.

The government of Venezuela has announced that it is seizing control of a factory that produces toilet paper. The purported reason for this action is a profound shortage of rear-end-oriented products, including toilet paper, sanitary napkins, and disposable diapers. Further, the Venezuelans do not mess around – they have announced that they will execute the takeover not with legal orders, but with the army.

In our view, taking the position that the government will shoot people if they attempt to hijack bum products (note the bad pun) is a little much. On the other hand, it may be necessary in a country that does not generate all that many corn cobs.

But let us imagine that this approach is adopted by the gummint here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. The American Red Cross reports that blood supplies are dangerously low. Not to worry! Our masters can save us. Following the Venezuelan approach, they will deploy battle hardened troops to round up a likely group of donors (the current Administration probably prefers Republicans, although there is a school of thought on the left that maintains that Republicans have no hearts and accordingly have no blood), stick needles into them, and drain them dry.

And there are other shortages!

Physician deficit? Draft promising students and force them to go to medical school!

Ammunition shortage? Seize all plows and beat them into swords!

The possibilities are endless.