Poorly-Referenced Economic Theory

Hello. A few days ago I took part in an 'Election Special' poetry slam (I came second and had a wonderful time, thanks for asking). I wrote the following specially for it. It reads a little differently to me after Thursday, and I'm still making my mind up about it. But fuck it: I wrote it so it goes on the blog - them's the rules.If you disagree with the politics of it, hopefully you can get some joy from the way it flows. I can't think of a title I particularly like for it, so for now I'm calling it "Poorly-Referenced Economic Theory" because exhaustively citing one's sources can throw off a piece's rhythm. It goes thusly:

Poorly-Reference Economic Theory

Right. Brace yourselves, It's time to strap in. 'cos Aristotle and I, we've been chatting, and the chap in the chiton has sparked a thought in the mind of the one who holds court dressed in a stylish jacket. Don't worry: I'll pack it in a way which won't confuse you or lose your attention. The ancient boke's contention is this: what we'd call the state, and he termed "he polis" is at its heart a group striving to do more goo  together than they could ever do apart. Here's where my thoughts started to start running.

You see, doing good requires money, quite a bit of cash, but there are brash pricks in powder pink and pinstripes who think "Cripes! Quick! Hide my stash offshore where the interest will earn me more and the taxman won't be stealing it for silly little projects like healing bone cancer in children!"

It's bewildering that some people can't see that the health of general populace helps the whole gods-damned lot of us, but our well-being and your bank balance both increase in times of peace so let's talk about the Police. Flawed as they are, it is only threat of their Sting that guards every breath you take and every move you make. Remember: we're watching you, and, as much as it might be a duty, they will not work for free.

More important to me is the realm of the mind, so if you'd be so kind: It coes twenty-two-and-a-half thousand pounds to educate one child, according to that wild, socialist rag, The Telegraph. How can we begin to staff the nation, to do what needs to be done, without a system of taxation to fairly acquire these funds? Tell me, Mr Big-Spender, how it suits your agenda if your workforce has not been taught to do those myriad tasks whose aggregation has helped your wealth grow so very vast? Nevermind that it's this learning which helped them start earning and so be able to support themselves in some semblance of dignity.

Your anointed Highnesses, while we're on everyday people's finances, might I make a point whilst I have the temerity? Raising median prosperity is a fine end in and of itself, but it's when people spend - to put some circulation on those notes - that our economic health really shoots upwards like a rocket-powered mountain goat.

I'm shorter on time than I am examples on my list, but I think you've got the gist. It's not a tricky concept, I should have to say it more than once. It's both selfish and self destructive to hoard such wealth.

Got it? Good. Cheers. Thanks a bunch.


One hopes you're well,
yrs,
ADWoodward