Questions for Solid Citizens
Don J. Cormier
Here's
a suggestion for my rebellious, defiant, and non-conformist readers.
The next time you happen to be engaged in conversation with a "solid citizen"
— perhaps a relative — ask the following questions:
1. |
|
Would you agree that modern society
has many serious problems? |
2. |
|
If so, doesn't it make sense to devote
at least some energy to solving those problems? |
3. |
|
If some of the problems are radical
in nature, wouldn't that justify radical solutions? |
4. |
|
Wouldn't the requirement of a radical
solution to a problem justify taking radical actions? |
5. |
|
Might it be worthwhile to undertake
sacrifices to make the world a different and better place? |
6. |
|
What is the best possible social
context for fulfillment for yourself and your loved ones? |
These
questions are open-ended and may not elicit any sort of positive answer.
However, they are almost certain thought provokers.![10x5 Page Background GIF Image](../../Images/10x5_Page_Background.gif)
One measure of the urgency of revolution is the freedom
the people have, compared with the freedom they want.
— from The World Menders, by Lloyd
Biggle, Jr.
|
The Little Red (and
Black) Hen
Dante DeAmicis
Once
upon a time there was poor but resourceful hen not content with the cradle
to grave care of the egg factory, so she decided to do some labor intensive
farming on a neglected plot of land not suitable for working by capital
intensive machinery. In order to share this measure of self sufficiency,
the Red and Black Hen asked her fellow "animal resources", "Who will help
me till the soil?"
"I'm
not a hardware person," said the pig.
"Star
Trek Voyager is on," said the sheep.
"I'm
tracking my investments," said the cow.
"Fine,
then I'll do it myself because I want the job done," said the Red and Black
Hen. After that job was done, the plucky squatter said, "Any of you
cubicle drones and couch potatoes want a piece of this planting action?"
"I
didn't get a technical degree to do manual labor," sneered the pig.
"Babylon
5 is on," deadpanned the sheep.
"I'm
working overtime. I can get food anytime," muttered the cow.
"Don't
say I didn't offer," chimed the hen.
(Six
Months Later)
"Harvest
time. Anybody? Anybody?" piped the Red and Black.
"Listen
bird, I don't want to be seen getting too tight with low income types,"
huffed hogbreath.
"Deep
Space Nine is on," droned the sheep.
"I'm
burying my gold and silver coins," announced the cow.
"Well
excuuuuse meee," said R. B. Hen on her way out. Having got that chore
done it was milling time. "You know, I've got enough wheat here to
make a Mormon drool," clucked the feathered farmer. "I'll give you
some for hard times if you help me mill it."
"Utopia
is not an option," snapped the porker.
"When
we have a free market everything will be taken care of," dismissed the
sheep as he popped in a video.
"My
stock options will see me through. Why worry about food?" proclaimed
the cow.
"What
the hell are you guys talking about?" sputtered the hen. So she finished
the project no richer in dollars and cents, and used enough flour to make
a couple of loaves of bread. Then just to be neighborly she proudly
offered, "Anyone want some fresh baked bread?"
"Not
unless you got some lunch meats to go with it," grunted the pig.
"I've
ordered a pizza," said the disinterested sheep.
"Is
that all you have to show for your work, a bunch of cheap bread?
You could have bought 10 times as much bread from working a minimum wage
job," lectured the cow.
"Never
mind then. You guys have a nice life," shot back Reddy Black.
Then
bacon butt spoke to the other two. "I've got an idea. Let's
form a Libertarian Party then go to a coffee shop where we can brag about
how much smarter we are than everyone else and under-tip the waitresses."
This
seemed like a great idea to the sheep and the cow, so off they all went,
making approving noises.
Little
RBH stood there shaking her head. "Jeez, what a bunch of assholes.
I'd better link up with other Red and Blacks defensively before these clowns
get hungry and change their party affiliation."![10x5 Page Background GIF Image](../../Images/10x5_Page_Background.gif)
Responses From the Readers
In
the January issue,
I asked the readers to check their motor vehicle certificates of title
to see if the name of their state appears in the box designating ownership.
Two subscribers in California responded. On the California Certificate
of Title for new cars (but not for used cars) and on the California vehicle
registration, "California" shows in the lienholder box. Bob, of San
Jose, offered this observation:
"... So, of course, the word 'California'
falls into the box labeled 'lienholder.' .... What's interesting
(or scary) is that even if there's no bank or other finance company listed
in the 'lienholder' box, the State of California is still listed there,
and, indeed, they will exercise their interest in the property if you fail
to pay the registration fees." |
Maybe
the readers in other states don't own cars. Whatever the reason,
none of them responded.
In
the January
issue, I also asked for volunteers to put together a pro-gun TV commercial.
I've had no responses at all. Surely some of you must be able to
help. Are we going to sit doing nothing and let the anti-gun crowd
win?
— editor
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men to do nothing.
— Edmund Burke, attributed
|
May 1998
Page 2 |
Frontiersman
479 E. 700 N., Firth, Idaho 83236 |
Frontiersman@ida.net |
|