As we approach our 233rd Independence Day celebrating the hard-fought Revolution under Gen. George Washington, winning secession and freedom from Great Britain's King George III, ponder the whole of the 28th chapter of "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe."

"The major problem- one of the major problems, for there are several - one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it, or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them."

To summarize: It is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to it. To summarize the summary: Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made president should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarize the summary of the summary: People are a problem.

"And so this is the situation we find: a succession of Galactic Presidents who so much enjoy the fun and palaver of being in power that they very rarely notice that they're not.

And somewhere in the shadows behind them- who? Who can possibly rule if no one who wants to do it can be allowed to?"

With thoughtful consideration on the 44 presidents who have held office.

Cheryl Lea Moersch, Lebanon