... there was a kingdom in the "Land of Silver" that was created for elder citizens to enjoy their final years.
Its beauty was second to none and was built with
nothing but the best of intentions to serve the people who would inhabit this
shire.
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They needed a governing body; and in doing so, those who constructed the kingdom, created a constitution that made it almost impossible for the citizens of the shire to make changes of any kind.
In the spirit of how they redefined democracy, this document allowed changes in the
shire in a rather peculiar manner....a clever maneuver that would greatly
inhibit the ability to make change.
What was the provision ?
You see, most elections are decided by a majority of citizens who cast a ballot.
BUT...NOT IN THIS DOCUMENT !
Those who founded the shire knew that this "normal" elective method might possibly affect their ability to rule the kingdom.
So...to avoid any subsequent revolution, the founders decided to construct a constitution that allowed
changes only if the majority OF THE ENTIRE HOBBIT
POPULATION would vote to make the change !
They cleverly knew that a sizable number of
the hobbit owners often traveled, lived elsewhere using their abodes on a part
time basis, and in a number of cases, leased their shacks to
others....
....thus....paying little attention to
the management of the kingdom....
...only being concerned with a sunny part time
lifestyle or revenue from their rental agreements
with strangers.
The result....knowing that rarely would more than 50% of the entire voting hobbit owners even
cast a ballot, it would literally be an impossibility
to obtain that number to make any substantial changes to their
kingdom.
However...this method
of "change" would not apply to
those who would rule the kingdom.
Those individuals would
instead be chosen by a simple majority of those who took the time to vote
!
So...they created a governing body that consisted
of seven individuals who would make all decisions for the
kingdom.
And...those who had the desire to be a member of
the "Magnificent 7" sought out a manner in which to be in that selected
group.
Over time a number of controlling hobbits who
believed it was their destiny, created a system of meeting in a "smoke filled room" to choose the candidates who would make
the decisions for the remaining trusting but
naive hobbits...
...a group that would evolve over time, increasing their power where they cared little as to what the resident hobbits desired....instead deciding policy based on "political correctness" and personal whims...
...somewhat influenced by a Troll in the kingdom
whose publication drastically altered fact after fact in order to enhance the
corruption !
How would they ensure the longevity of this controlled "spoils system" of government?
They would search the shire to lure their
handpicked "yes hobbits" to run committees; who in
turn, would tell them exactly what they wished to
hear.
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They knew that any "rebel" committee which would make a decision contrary to their wishes....meant little.
After all, the constitution allowed them to
override any recommendation they would make !
Now...this gets us to just who those seven "chosen ones" would be in each and every
election.
...and...over time...a strange phenomenon began to
occur after each successive election.
The kingdom
would eventually be
ruled by seven dwarfs
!
This had little to do with their being small in stature, but instead, a rather small thinking capacity as to managing the financial well-being of the kingdom.
Over years they would spend frivolously, looking
at the vast hobbit supplied revenue in a manner of "we
better spend it, or we'll have to give it back to
them".....
...so much so, that the Master Realm at one time
charged the shire a substantial tax levy....only to have it reduced as a result
of recruiting a smooth talking barrister...who charged "oodles" for his
services.
...yet portrayed....
...not as a "senseless waste of some money", but instead, "saving money" by not giving the Master Kingdom the tax
levy they originally demanded !
...and the naive innocent hobbits
said...
"Duh, that makes
sense"...and so...reelected them to further service in the
shire.
Now...the shire has been confronted with yet
another financial decision....
Does it lend money to a
business that hasn't been able to pay its bills since its inception
?
Hmmm.
Let's consider this momentous
decision.
* The business has never paid on time.
* The business has had all of its
equipment provided to them free of charge...including replacements.
* The business receives free
advertising in shire publications.
* The business has had its rental
payments cut in half, thus creating a monthly loss that must be financed by the
trusting hobbits who pay little attention to their shire's finances.
* The business wants to renegotiate
a loan....paying interest only...at an interest rate WELL BELOW FINANCIAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS at a
modest 2.75%...(a full
one-half point below the current 3.25% prime rate that is only granted to the
BEST OF BUSINESSES WITH A SOLID FINANCIAL TRACK
RECORD)
..... with an eventual balloon payment at maturity.
BUT...to sweeten the
deal....
The business says the loan will be personally guaranteed by
three of the owners....a total sum of ONLY
$35,000.... that....somehow, in all their success, one of which is a TV
star.....
...can't (or won't) come up with only $11,667 each !
DECISION....
Sure, why not
!
Now that certainly makes all the sense in the
world, doesn't it ?
And...in the spirit of "cooperation without confrontation" the seven hobbit dwarfs
determined that a controlled kingdom needs a proper "anthem" that reflects the spirit it has steadfastly
maintained....
And so...one hobbit "malcontent" made the following suggestion that this be
adopted on behalf of all the hobbits who inhabit the
shire....
...while watching this video honoring the successful achievement of many dwarfs who have lead the realm over the past 8 years !
And they all lived happily ever
after....
UNTIL...
They Got Their Subsequent Assessment
!
Dick
Arendt
*All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead..is purely coincidental.
*All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead..is purely coincidental.
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