He called the royal weather forecaster
and inquired as to the weather forecast for the next few hours.
The weatherman assured him that there
was no chance of rain in the coming days.
So the king went fishing with his wife,
the queen. On the way he met a farmer on his donkey. Upon seeing the king the
farmer said, "Your Majesty, you should return to the palace at once because in
just a short time I expect a huge amount of rain to fall in this area".
The
king was polite and considerate, he replied: "I hold the palace meteorologist
in high regard. He is an extensively educated and experienced professional.
And besides, I pay him very high wages. He gave me a very different forecast.
I trust him and I will continue on my way." So he continued on his
way.
However, a short time later a torrential
rain fell from the sky. The King and Queen were totally soaked and their
entourage chuckled upon seeing them in such a shameful condition.
Furious, the king returned to the palace
and gave the order to fire the weatherman at once!
Then he summoned the farmer and offered
him the prestigious and high paying role of royal forecaster.
The
farmer said, "Your Majesty, I do not know anything about forecasting. I obtain
my information from my donkey. If I see my donkey's ears drooping, it means
with certainty that it will rain."
So
the king hired the donkey.
And
so began the practice of hiring asses to work in the government and occupy its
highest and most influential positions.
This tradition continues to this
day in the United States, especially in the White House, the Senate and Congress.
