A Play "The Poverty Racket"
The man sat down to eat his meal, it wasn't exactly what he wanted, but it was close, just not close enough. “Why should I settle for less, when I could have more?" He thought. “Everyone deserves more. Are you trying to tell me that more depends on having more money? What if I don’t have more money, or even some money? Does that make me wrong for wanting more? The rich have more, and everyone knows the rich are evil, so giving me more, shouldn't be an issue. Unless, the people who oppose me having more, are rich. Which they must be, otherwise, why would they oppose me?”
This seemed perfectly logical to him, and now that he knew who the enemy was, he would go get some more. Not just a little more, but a lot more. Because the rich had a lot more, so should he.
Another group of people came along, listened and said “We agree. We wondered what that whole, rich having more was all about. But now, we've found the truth. “It’s capitalism, which the rich seem to love. This leads us to conclude that capitalism must be bad. After all, the proof is in the pudding. If the rich love it, it has to be evil.” And, with that, the small crowd of like-minded people all nodded in agreement. “It’s the rich and capitalism, who are to blame for us not having more.” They shouted. “Now, let’s go get us some more.”
In no time a few politicians showed up, watching and listening intently to what the growing crowd was saying. “Hey! We can help.” They said. We’ll get you some more, all you have to do is vote for us—and, before you know it, you’ll have more, lots more.”
This sounded swell to the crowd of people, who were now officially known as “The People Who Wanted More.” This made it a lot easier to tell who was who.
At that moment a different voice spoke up and said “Why do you deserve more? Did you work for more? Did you save your money, so you could have more?”
At first the crowd was perplexed, “What are you trying to say?” They asked, in return. “Are you trying to say that we, “The People Who Want More,” should have to work to get more, when the rich jut stole all their money from us?”
The voice responded “But how did they steal anything from you, if you don’t have anything to steal?”
“Oh my god! Did you hear what he just said? He’s implying that just because we don’t have anything to steal, that the rich didn't steal it. I mean, if they didn't steal it, where did they get all that money from? All things being equal and such. Meaning, if they have way more than we, “The People Who Want More” have, how on earth do we get more?”
“Umm….? Work for it, maybe?” The voice answered. “You could start a business. You could invent something people want and are willing to pay for.”
“That’s what we’re talking about, damn it!” Said The People Who Want More.” “We want more. Do we get more? No! Only the rich get more!”
“Yeah! Right!” Responded the voice. “The difference is you want more and expect other people to pay for it. When you start a business, you provide a service or make a product others want. That’s how you get rich.”
“Umm…but how do we get money, so we can get rich, if the rich stole all the money from us to begin with? Hmm? Tell us that one, you right wing bastard! I guess you don’t believe in Jesus, who agrees with us.”
“Are people freaking nuts?” Said the voice. “You’re using circular logic to justify yourselves. The rich can’t steal what you don’t have, so you can’t take from them without stealing….you dumb bastards!”
This could mean only one thing for “The People Wanted More,” they needed to elect some politicians to take back what was rightfully theirs.
“Yeah! That will do it!” They said, as they walked off, shouting, yelling and breaking things. Because when you shout, yell and break things, it means you’re right. They thought to themselves. “What else do we need to do, to prove we’re right?”
“After you vote for us, not a damn thing.” Said the politicians. “Not a damn thing!”
Mark Magula
This seemed perfectly logical to him, and now that he knew who the enemy was, he would go get some more. Not just a little more, but a lot more. Because the rich had a lot more, so should he.
Another group of people came along, listened and said “We agree. We wondered what that whole, rich having more was all about. But now, we've found the truth. “It’s capitalism, which the rich seem to love. This leads us to conclude that capitalism must be bad. After all, the proof is in the pudding. If the rich love it, it has to be evil.” And, with that, the small crowd of like-minded people all nodded in agreement. “It’s the rich and capitalism, who are to blame for us not having more.” They shouted. “Now, let’s go get us some more.”
In no time a few politicians showed up, watching and listening intently to what the growing crowd was saying. “Hey! We can help.” They said. We’ll get you some more, all you have to do is vote for us—and, before you know it, you’ll have more, lots more.”
This sounded swell to the crowd of people, who were now officially known as “The People Who Wanted More.” This made it a lot easier to tell who was who.
At that moment a different voice spoke up and said “Why do you deserve more? Did you work for more? Did you save your money, so you could have more?”
At first the crowd was perplexed, “What are you trying to say?” They asked, in return. “Are you trying to say that we, “The People Who Want More,” should have to work to get more, when the rich jut stole all their money from us?”
The voice responded “But how did they steal anything from you, if you don’t have anything to steal?”
“Oh my god! Did you hear what he just said? He’s implying that just because we don’t have anything to steal, that the rich didn't steal it. I mean, if they didn't steal it, where did they get all that money from? All things being equal and such. Meaning, if they have way more than we, “The People Who Want More” have, how on earth do we get more?”
“Umm….? Work for it, maybe?” The voice answered. “You could start a business. You could invent something people want and are willing to pay for.”
“That’s what we’re talking about, damn it!” Said The People Who Want More.” “We want more. Do we get more? No! Only the rich get more!”
“Yeah! Right!” Responded the voice. “The difference is you want more and expect other people to pay for it. When you start a business, you provide a service or make a product others want. That’s how you get rich.”
“Umm…but how do we get money, so we can get rich, if the rich stole all the money from us to begin with? Hmm? Tell us that one, you right wing bastard! I guess you don’t believe in Jesus, who agrees with us.”
“Are people freaking nuts?” Said the voice. “You’re using circular logic to justify yourselves. The rich can’t steal what you don’t have, so you can’t take from them without stealing….you dumb bastards!”
This could mean only one thing for “The People Wanted More,” they needed to elect some politicians to take back what was rightfully theirs.
“Yeah! That will do it!” They said, as they walked off, shouting, yelling and breaking things. Because when you shout, yell and break things, it means you’re right. They thought to themselves. “What else do we need to do, to prove we’re right?”
“After you vote for us, not a damn thing.” Said the politicians. “Not a damn thing!”
Mark Magula