THE CARPET BAGGER

Some years ago, a carpetbagger arrived to a small town. In his bag, he carried many vials of elixirs that were said to contain great promises of change, eternal youth, entitlement, treasure, and prosperity.  "Of course all these things do come at a price" the carpetbagger said as he carefully displayed each and every bottle on a velvet covered table. Each exquisite bottle had its own distinct color and shape- original to the powers of the potion contained within. The crowd drew closer with curiosity. But there was one skeptic amongst them who asked the question; "How do we know that these tonics are as you say?" The stranger removed his cap humbly and said, "Oh they are everything I say they are sir, as you will see.” A young woman, who pushed her way to the front of the crowd, asked the outsider how many pieces of gold it would cost to have some of what was in each of the bottles. The bagger smiled down warmly on the young lady and said," Gold, there is no need for gold here. These tinctures are free of any monetary attachments. All I ask in return, should I decide to share their unique qualities with you fine people, is a given period of time that I might sit at the head of your community in a position of affluence where I may intercede in order to make sure that the properties of each of these alchemies is at their fullest potential. Now that being said I think that, you as a group of people, should unite and take a vote as to whether or not I may lend to you as a society."  And all, but for a few hem-haws, the foreigner was voted as a leader. In the beginning things seemed to be better. But, as time went on, these improvements never lasted for very long, and soon they failed to manifest at all. For eight long years to follow, while under the rule of the stranger, there was no fare, reward and license, with no enhancement in the quality of life, or resolve for the villagers. In fact, every aspect of the townspeople's existence became intensely complicated and restrictive. No one could come and go as freely as they used to, and people had to put forth more for much less than before. It appeared as though, around every corner was waiting- nothing more than- disappointment, and punitive regret until finally life became droll, and drab- causing them to age much faster than normal. The carpet bagger, however, was living large. He never wanted for anything, did as he pleased, and distanced himself from the town’s inhabitance while gaining imminence with outside influentials.  Finally the day came when all of the vials were empty. The stranger simply gathered them up, tossed them out the window, packed his bags and left. Although not completely destitute, the townspeople were left deeply confused and at a disadvantage. They had no idea how to resume a normal life. They were no longer able to make decisions. And, they were seriously handicapped as a society, because this left them feeling empty.

~The moral of this story is; Politics is nothing more than smoke and mirrors, and it serves only in the interest of the one, thus displacing all others.~  (Kit: April 3rd, 2013) © Copyright by Kit Morgan; 2013.