From the Den of John Day

Government regulations can help but can also hurt us.

We must keep informed and involved in what is being proposed.

It takes input by all of us. It is time we work together for a common goal and not have to settle for what we are told.

I ran across this story. I thought I would share with you.

The Modern

Little Red Hen

Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she discovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'

"Not I," said the cow

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red he. And she did.

The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain.

"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

Then I will," said the little red hen. And she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread.

"Who will help me bake the bread?" said the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me." said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red he. And she did. She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see. They all wanted some and in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I can eat the five loaves myself."

"Excess profits!" cried the cow.

"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose.

And the pig just grunted.

And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched around and round the little red he, shouting obscenities. When the government agent came, he said to the little red he, "You must not be greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That is the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide their product with the idle."

And they lived happily ever after, including the little red he, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful. I am grateful."

But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked anymore bread.

John Day

Plains