Producers need to take a stance

A friend recently sent me an essay lamenting how 545 Americans (our President, Congress and Supreme Court) are ultimately responsible for the host of problems the other 300 million Americans are currently experiencing.

I don’t believe this indictment is completely true. The reason why America is experiencing such a horrendous social crisis is not the handiwork of our 545 leaders but instead the compliance of America’s 75 million producers. Out of 300 million Americans, only 75 million actually give more than they take from society.

Whether it’s tax revenue or voluntary service they provide, society needs the 75 million “givers” more than it needs the 225 million “takers.” This reality reveals that the true power in this country is in the hands of the 75 million givers, and they are ultimately responsible for America’s direction.

Consider that society is a horse-drawn wagon where the 75 million givers are the horses, the 545 are the wagon master, and the 225 million takers are the passengers riding the wagon for free.

The horses whine and complain, but they continue to endure the wagon master’s whip as the ever increasing passengers yell for the wagon to go faster. Occasionally one of the horses refuses to be whipped any longer and lies down in the street.

When this happens, the wagon master shoots the stubborn horse and the other horses, frightened by the wagon master’s bullet, pick up the pace (with one less horse pulling in the harness).

Although they don’t realize it, the real power belongs to the horses, not the wagon master. If the horses would only realize that if they were to lie down in the street at the same time, collectively instead of individually, the enraged passengers would shoot the wagon master instead of the horses.

The American wagon can’t continue if the wagon master whips the horses to go faster at the same time it’s letting more freeloading passengers into the wagon. If America wants the wagon to move efficiently, the wagon master must do two things: (1) take good care of the horses; and (2) charge the passengers a fare for riding the wagon.

When the wagon master treats the horses well and prevents the wagon from filling up with people who are capable of walking, the horses will pull the wagon indefinitely.

Until the 75 million horses pulling the American wagon figure out that they alone hold the power to control America’s destiny, they will continue to be whipped and abused. Horses know how to get to the barn without a wagon master, but a wagon master can’t get the wagon to the barn without the horses.

The time has come for the horses to demonstrate some courage and let the wagon master know they will take the whip no longer. Should the wagon master’s whip persist, the horses should lie down in the street until the wagon master is replaced.

Joe Coco lives in Whitefish.