Opus 2014-102: On the Street: A Better Mousetrap

Recently my friendly philanthropist was driving a loaner car.  He told me it was a problem of headlight mice.  When he said that I thought of the young man who was sent out by his friends on a quest for “headlight fluid” and the apocryphal “left-handed monkey wrench.”  He was serious. 

Evidently when the weather gets unpleasant mice will climb up in the warm engine compartment.  While there they will try to make a meal of exposed wires.  Evidently this is a common problem.  We should not let the EPA or PETA know because it could open an entirely new regulatory agency to protect the mice.

After a brief laugh I got serious.  His story has parallels in education and government.  How often have both been disabled because some pest has been seeking a place of comfort and destroyed whatever was in reach?  Think of all the brain dead regulations you must deal with every day.  For instance, if you have no accidents or moving violations, why are you required to renew your driver’s license every few years?  How can affirmative action be viewed as anything but another form of racial discrimination?  Why do schools mix kids who cannot read in with those who are gifted? 

I am sure you have your own list.

Blame it on the mice.

Build a better mouse trap.

homo unius libri