On its world the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people. Odd, said Arthur. I thought you said it was a democracy. I did, said Ford. You mean they actually vote for the lizards? Oh, yes, said Ford with a shrug, of course. But, said Arthur, why? Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, said Ford, the wrong lizard might get in. — Douglas Adams, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1985)