Please note that these links do exist -- but
they're in the process of being shuffled around a little because of some
asshole making an issue of my web sites in court. If one doesn't work today
-- it will very soon. I'm guessing November 30, 2005!
Once upon a time, on a farm
in Arkansas, there was a little red hen who scratched about the
barnyard until she uncovered quite a few grains of wheat.
She called all of her neighbors together and said, "If we plant this
wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"
"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. And so she
did;
The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will
help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Out of my classification," said the pig.
"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.
"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she
did. At last it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake
the bread? Asked the little red hen.
"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.
"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.
"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.
"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the
goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked
five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They
wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen
said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves."
"Excess profits!" cried the cow.
"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck.
"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose.
The pig just grunted in disdain. And they all painted "Unfair!"
picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen,
shouting obscenities.
Then a government agent came, his name was Al, he said to the little
red hen, "You must not be so greedy."
"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.
"Exactly," said the agent. "That is what makes our free enterprise
system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he
wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive
workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are
lazy and idle."
And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen,
who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand."
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again
baked bread because she joined the "party" and got her bread free.
And all the Democrats smiled. 'Fairness' had been established.
Individual initiative had died but nobody noticed; perhaps no one
cared, as long as there was free bread.
Thought for today…
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, armatures built the
Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
