From A Demon's Nest of Sentiments

[thewayne]

Generally speaking, the republic that cannot be made out through the swarm of czars and bureaucracies plaguing its landscape, is rather like like a dog you can't see for its fleas. The only difference is, although you'd do something to treat the dog, you certainly wouldn't bankroll its parasites.

With a republic, it is rather the reverse.

http://www.gocomics.com/pibgorn/2014/02/09