THE PARABLE OF THE TANK
A fable by Edward BELLAMY published in 1897
Once upon a time there was a very dry earth. The village which was there suffered from a great lack of water. Many were dying of thirst.
Among these men, some were smarter than others who had gone so far as to store water when others had not found any. These men were called the Capitalists.
We are dying of thirst! Please give us some of this water that you have in reserve!
Work for us and you will have water!
It happened that way. The capitalists organized the village. They used some to transport the water and sent others to search for new sources. All the water was put in a repository called THE MARKET.
For each bucket you bring we will pay you one euro, but for each bucket you drink we will ask you for two euros. The price difference will be our benefit.
It happened that way. For each bucket they carried they received one euro, but for each bucket they needed they had to pay two euros.
Since they could only buy half of the water they brought, the tank soon overflowed.
The tank is full and the water is overflowing. Do not bring more water until the deposit is emptied.
UNEMPLOYMENT
But when the people no longer received the euros, they could not buy more water, and when the capitalists realized that they were no longer getting any profit, they worried.
Times are tough, we have to advertise our product.
tank
"THE ONE WHO IS THIRSTY, PURCHASE THE WATER FROM OUR TANK!"
How are we going to buy if we don't have a job? Give us work as before and with what you pay us, we will buy you the water and no more advertising.
How are we going to use you to carry the water when the tank is overflowing? Buy first and when the tank is empty we will use you again.
We are in an economic crisis!
Look, the tank is overflowing and we're dying of thirst!
Give us water so you don't perish!
No, the water is ours. You will not drink it unless you buy it. Business is business!
BUT THE CAPITALISTS WERE WORRIED
How is it that our profits prevent other benefits? Our earnings are ruining us! May the priests come to explain this to us!
The priests were men drawn to the art of speaking confusedly and they allied themselves with the capitalists so that they and their sons could drink their water.
* In the original version all the priests did not ally themselves with the capitalists.
Why don't the people buy water?
It is the excess of stock.
It's because of the superproduction.
It's because of the full moon.
It is for lack of faith.
It's good. Go tell this to the people so that they calm down and leave us alone.
And the priests went and spoke to the people.
You have to die of thirst because there is too much water and there is not enough because there is a lot !!
And you have to have faith because the full moon!
... This affliction was sent by God to save your souls! Don't get carried away by the urge for water! Do not disturb the capitalists and when you die, you will go to a country where water will be abundant !!!
But the people did not calm down and hardened more and more. So the capitalists appealed to the most privileged, to those who only knew how to crush others physically: THE FORCES.
Why not share your future with us? If you defend us against the people so that they do not take our deposition by force, you and your sons will have plenty of water.
And those who only knew how to crush others physically became aid to the capitalists; and with sticks and swords, they defended them by hurting the people gathered near the depot.
LUXURY AND WASTE
And after many days, the water dropped because the capitalists made swimming pools and water jets; and they spoiled the water while having fun.
The depot is empty, the crisis is over! You have to call the people and use them to bring water.
For each bucket brought back we will pay you one euro, but for each bucket you drink we will ask you for two euros.
Shortly after, the depot began to overflow again as before and the people again died of thirst and the water was wasted by the capitalists. It was repeated many times.
The revolts
Then, in this earth arose some individuals who dared to speak. How long are we going to be fooled?
If we unite we will not need to be the slaves of the capitalists and we will no longer die of thirst!
They told us that it is God's will to be always poor and thirsty. These are just ingenious fables invented by capitalists and priests.
Why can't we benefit from the water in the depot? Because we have no money! And why don't we have money? Because we only get one euro for each bucket of water we bring ...
... And on the other hand we have to pay two for the one we need! This is why the tank necessarily overflows. The more water we bring, the more we will be oppressed!
Do we need these capitalists? No! Organize our work, distribute the tasks and the fruit of our work will belong to us.
And we can distribute it equally among us and when we are all satisfied, with the water we have left we can build swimming pools.
... BUT FOR ALL !!!
THE END
And the capitalists as well as the priests and the bullies heard the cries of revolt of the people and began to tremble.
Our end has come!
Source: http://www.jeanpierrepoulin.com/parabol ... terne.html
