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The Lord came to Noah who was now living in America and said: “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me.

“Build another ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans.”

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying:

“You have 6 months to build the ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.”

6 months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard but no ark.

“Noah!,” He roared, “I’m about to start the rain! Where is the ark?”

“Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah. “Things have changed. They told me I needed a building permit.

“I’ve been arguing with the boat inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.”

“My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the neighborhood by-laws by building the ark in my back yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the local Planning Committee for a decision.

“THEN THE LOCAL Council and the electric company demanded money for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the ark’s move to the sea.

“I told them the sea would be coming to us but they would hear none of it.”

“Getting the wood was another problem. There’s a ban on cutting local trees to save the Greater Spotted Barn Owl.

“I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but they wouldn’t listen!

“When I started gathering the animals the ASPCA took me to court. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

“Then the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that I couldn’t build the ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

“I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew.

“The Immigration Department is checking the visa status of most of the people who want to work.

“The trade unions say I can’t use my sons. They insist I have to hire only union workers with ark-building experience.

“To make it worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

“Forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this ark.”

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked in wonder and asked, “You mean you won’t destroy the world?” ;

“No,” said the Lord.

“The government beat me to it.”

“It is amazing that people who think we cannot afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication somehow think that we can afford to pay for them and a government bureaucracy to administer them.

Thomas Sowell