505275_56608317Fourteen years ago the man, to that point relatively healthy, began feeling ‘not quite right.’  He complained of low energy, of being uninspired.  He decided for a while it was mild depression: maybe a little disorientation, the feeling things were coming apart.  He was sure it would pass.  

It didn’t.

So, 10 years ago he decided to consult a doctor. After a thorough exam, the doctor came back with a diagnosis and a recommended course of treatment. 

The diagnosis: poor diet and lack of exercise was causing heart trouble.  The patient was spending too much money on junk food and far too little time exercising and earning new revenue.  The heart trouble extended to a lack of moral fiber in the diet as well.  All combined, these unhealthy habits were making the man feel slow, flat, lazy and self-centered.  Left untreated the doctor told the man he would become impaired and eventually die.

The treatment: lots of exercise, walking at first.  A new budget that demanded balance: reduced spending on wasteful pursuits, and a robust plan for creating prosperity and earning new revenue.  The doctor recommended daily diligence creating new habits centered on good food and exercise, of generating a surplus so there was money left for charitable contributions.  
Finally, the doctor suggested the man seek spiritual roots and embrace those traditions of morality that had proven successful in the past. 

Unfortunately, the man rejected the diagnosis and the treatment. 

He continued spending too much money on junk food. 

He even invited his neighbors to join him, and that made his financial problems worse. 

He refused to exercise, and instead of working harder to make more revenue, he applied for food stamps, housing subsidies and government medical care.

He, along with others, demanded government cut spending on security to spend more on his dependencies, and the crime rate increased.

Needless to say, his physical health deteriorated, and so did his spirit.  As he felt worse and worse, he complained more and more, and blamed others, becoming angry and resentful.

Seven years ago, many like-minded men and women decided they too would reject the doctor’s advice.  They banded together demanding more support for their declining conditions.  They elected people who would never question their growing demands for subsidies, people who only required votes for food stamps, making sure those food stamps were also good for cigarettes and beer. 

It was a cozy arrangement.

The doctor stood by shaking his head.  He warned them one day their hearts would give out.  They laughed and called him a hater, a friend of rich people, no friend of the sufferers.

Then, the day came when there was no one left to do the work, money became worthless, and the shelves were stripped bare. 

The politicians were fine.  They were living offshore where they had stashed enough gold, not caring about votes any more.

And the “voters” were left to the mercy of the mob, or the firing squad.