A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little reality-based minds.

Give up consistency, give up rationality, give up the shackles of logic, and all things become possible to you.

You can balance the Federal budget by cutting taxes on the rich and create jobs by busting unions.

You can deny the poor the basic necessities of life, secure in your knowledge that you are doing the work of the Lord.

You can run an oil-based economy forever because oil is a renewable resource and there are no harmful consequences to burning it.

You can call your opponents “enemies” and “traitors” and advocate their assassination and rest assured that you have no responsibility when someone acts on your word.

You can take from others whatever it pleases you to take, and do to them whatever it pleases you to do, knowing that you are merely helping the Lord to carry out His will on those who deserve no better.

You can subject your enemies to pain, torture and death, knowing full well that you have the Lord’s blessing because they are also His enemies.

And finally, if you have any mild twinges of fear for your soul, at the end of your days you can utter certain magical phrases and all will be forgiven--if, indeed, there is actually anything to be forgiven in one who has lived such an exemplary life as yours has been.