Poem: 'The Goose and the Commons' - Anonymous, 1821

This poem is so valid in describing the government in its current state. I had to post it here:

#governmentshutdown

'The Goose and the Commons'

The law locks up the man or woman
Who steals the goose from off the common
But leaves the greater villain loose
Who steals the common from off the goose.

The law demands that we atone
When we take things we do not own
But leaves the lords and ladies fine
Who take things that are yours and mine.

The poor and wretched don’t escape
If they conspire the law to break;
This must be so but they endure
Those who conspire to make the law.

They hang the man and flog the woman,
Who steals the goose from off the common,
And geese will still a common lack
Till they go and steal it back.

The fault is great in man or woman
Who steals a goose from off a common;
But what can plead that man's excuse
Who steals a common from a goose?

-Anonymous, February 1, 1821.