The farmer and the post turtle

An old farmer caught his hand in a squeeze gate while working his cattle. He went to the doctor to stitch the cut on the hand. While stitching his hand, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old farmer, and eventually the topic turned to politics and politicians.

The old farmer said, “As I see it, most politicians are like ‘post turtles’.” The doctor was not familiar with the term, and asked the farmer, “What is a ‘post turtle’?”

The old farmer said, “Well, it’s like this. When you’re driving down a country road and you come across a fence post and see a turtle balanced on top of it, that’s a post turtle.” The old farmer saw the puzzled look on the doctor’s face, so he continued to explain. “You know he didn’t get up there by himself. He doesn’t belong up there. He doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there. He’s elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of fool put him up there to begin with.”