The Fable of Three Politicians

Once upon a time, in a Kingdom not so far away, there were three people who decided that they would serve their King, but needed the other peasants of the kingdom to pay for it.

Monsieur WallCaught, Dame Hatchett and her betrothed, Sir Hatchett set upon the land in search of voters, whilst spending the treasures bestowed upon them by the people.

Monsieur WallCaught, surveying the land before him in Ville de Lewis, was unable to squander the precious gold pieces entrusted to him by the peasants on such frivolity as blaring trumpets, chickens and daily readings in the town square. So, he decided to do what any good former peasant would do, and simply tucked away the coins for "safe keeping".

Meanwhile, further up the river, the Hatchets, working side by side in the fields and valleys of Summerset came to a similar conclusion as Monsieur WallCaught. The Hatchets, however, decided that instead of tucking the coins away for safekeeping, they would simply share the spoils with the people.

One for me....one for you.....one for me.... one for you -- and on it went.

Alas, Monsieur Wallcaught could not rest his weary head. He struggled mightily with his guilt as the coins rattled louder and louder in his ears. Until, no longer able to suppress his inner struggle, the repentant Monsieur WallCaught confessed all of his sins to the Minister of Ethics, who, by chance, just happened to be at his front door.

The confession, though just and right, demanded nothing short of the guillotine. The General would carry out the sentence for the repentant and fully confessed WallCaught.

Back in Summerset, the Hatchetts feeling no such remorse, continued merrily along -- until they too received a "surprise" visit from the Minister of Ethics. Fortunately for the Hatchetts, they suffered no feelings of guilt or remorse, although, it became evident that early onset Alzheimer's weighed heavily upon them both and they were unable to remember anything at all about anything.

After a stern and stridently worded note from the Jury on Ethical Questions, the Hatchetts went about their merry way.

The moral of the story:

When faced with the possibility of the guillotine before the Minister of Ethics and the General, it is best to forget everything in your little head, lest your little head be removed from your neck.

The End.