Befuddled and frustrated

Those are the words that have kept me wondering what to write in recent days.

Last night while reading Andrea Camilleri's most recent novel I came upon the following:

"Ingrid's husband was a ne'er do well, so it was only logical that he should turn to politics. The inspector recalled a popular saying from his childhood, which an uncle of his used to repeat: "If you've got no art or trade, in politics you'll make the grade".

Of course that does not apply to all of our "dedicated" public servants, but the phrase appealed to me.