Science & Poitics

An oldie but goodie, circulating the net for some time now...

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced his altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me... can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The woman replied, "You are in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees North latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."

"You must be a scientist," said the balloonist.

"I am," said the woman, "How did you know?"

"Well", answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, which means I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."

The woman below responded. "You must be a politician."

"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

"You don't know where you are or where you're going," replied the woman. "You have risen to your present height due to nothing more than the bouyancy of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem."

She continued after a moment: "Moreover, you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."