Notable and Quotable

The following G. K. Chesterton quote sounds familiar somehow:

Never since the mob called out, “Less bread! More taxes!” in the nonsense story, has there been so truly nonsensical a situation as that in which the strikers demand Government control and the Government denounces its own control as anarchy. The mob howls before the palace gates, “Hateful tyrant, we demand that you assume more despotic powers”; and the tyrant thunders from the balcony, “Vile rebels, do you dare to suggest that my powers should be extended?” There seems to be a little misunderstanding somewhere.

The really weird part is that we see this on both sides: The Left insists that a government it doesn't trust have the power to redistribute wealth and the Right insists that a government it doesn't trust have the power to regulate immigration.