From Rudyard Kipling, a century ago:
...
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool’s bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
Do you recall who were the "gods of the copybook headings", and who would they be in our modern condition? "Sid the Squid" Blumenthal and the kids over at the Daily Beast? The editors of the WaPo? Bill Maher and likeminded giants of the age?
Whatsoever, for any cause,
Seeketh to take or give
Power above or beyond the Laws,
Suffer it not to live!
Holy State or Holy King—
Or Holy People’s Will—
Have no truck with the senseless thing.
Order the guns and kill!
Macdonough’s Song
As Easy as ABC
Rudyard Kipling