Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.

The line is a blunt piece of political satire: like diapers, politicians become “dirty” with prolonged use—through corruption, complacency, or the accumulation of compromises—and therefore should be replaced frequently. It implies that regular turnover (elections, term limits, accountability mechanisms) is a hygiene measure for public life, preventing rot and forcing responsiveness. The joke’s force comes from collapsing the lofty rhetoric of governance into a bodily, everyday necessity, suggesting that power is inherently prone to contamination and that citizens should treat political renewal as routine maintenance rather than a rare crisis response.

1) “Politicians are like diapers: they should be changed often, and for the same reason.”
2) “Politicians and diapers must be changed regularly—both for the same reason.”
3) “Diapers and politicians should be changed frequently, and for the same reason.”