Might makes right

As we watch Democracy in North America wind down, I thought it might be fun to look at how it happened.

2008 was the year that lots of world-weary chickens came poking ’round, looking for someplace to set up shop. Little origami chickens folded up by guv’ment types, set out flying into the world, without reading the rules that they wrote themselves.

The flitting forms delighted some that saw them; even thinking folks said ‘Well, isn’t that nice.’

Sure, there were those who were worried about the long-term consequences, but their voices were stifled in their throats by shouts back:

“You just don’t like chickens. This guy hates chickens, what could he possibly have to say that we could respect. Chicken haters, they should be lined up and shot”

Rather than even being accused of that awful thing, when it is not even how you feel about chickens, it is best to keep quiet. It’s not really censorship if all you are doing is setting up an environment that would prevent dissenting opinions from finding the air.

If you can make someone think twice before talking; if you can eviscerate a couple of goats on the public scene; then your job is half done. The rest of it takes place in the head of the victim. He doesn’t want those things to be said about him, so he will not say what might lead to that eventuality.

Censorship only happens once the ideas are out. If they don’t make it to daylight, that would be called something else, but the result is the same: The stifling of free thought.

So. Out they went. Chickens, flapping. Detractors dripping blood from their chins from biting their lips. Supporters, misty-eyed, speaking of the majesty, thanking Congress for doing right by all the chickens that never would have had a chance to take wing without them.

Now come the business folk. They look at any situation and think of the way that they can use it to their advantage. It did not escape their attention that there was a lot more chickens darkening the skies lately.

They took up paper folding services, giving life to more chickens.

A new industry.

Some people set up stands to let you watch the chickens fly by, and place bets.

Lucrative industry.

Flying paper chickens, by virtue of the fact that they are flying, might need to have paper backpacks.

A whole new industry.

All of the people working in these new industries, they would need to eat, and drink. Feeding them was a whole industry unto itself, and the suppliers of the food needed shops, and cars, and food themselves.

All these people blew skyward, keeping chickens aloft, things were good.

Origami surged. Real industry suffered and went away. There is no need to train people to build things, we need more paper folders, pipe fitters are so last century.

There’s the set-up. Everyone makes a buck. Elected officials keep their jobs. Everything works as long as none of the people get tired of wasting their breath to keep the chickens aloft.

Then the realization…