8.o.
“You denounce
our economic system for its inherent apathy,” John Q Public said.
“No. I denounce apathy,” said Corporate
Man.
“And like I
said, the two are inseparable. And it’s
not just Big Business, it’s the consumers as well. They don’t care about sustainable commodities
or fair trade. They want the most
product they can get for the least amount of cost and those who suffer to make
those savings possible be damned.”
“I think what
he’s saying,” Franklin Buck said, “is have you ever seen a mall at Christmas
time? On Black Friday?”
“Stop
supporting him,” Corporate Man said.
“That’s the problem. People
wouldn’t behave that way if we stop those that perpetuate the myth.”
“It’s not a
myth. It’s a fact,” said John Q Public.
“No!” Corporate
Man shouted. “I refuse to believe
that. If people understood they would
rise up–”
“Never,” said
John Q Public. “It would never happen.”
“Oh you hope
that it–”
“I could tell
everyone everything. Maybe send out one
of those ‘pass it along to twenty people and it will spread across the country
in three days’ e-mails detailing what’s precisely going on and pleading with
everyone to do something about it. To
make and difference. And it would do
nothing.”
“I believe it
would. I have faith in the inherent good
of people.”
“Faith is a
concept invented to keep the ignorant blind and blissful,” said John Q Public.
“You’re wrong,”
Corporate Man said, his jaw clenching.
“Fine. How about this then?” John Q Public said,
fingering an imperceptible button on the arm of his chair and stroking his
luscious moustache. “I’m sending out one
of those e-mails right now. Complete
with the details of the economic rogering we’ve given the public. And I’ll include a plea, urging them to take
up arms against the financial establishment.
Let’s even set a date. How about
April 16th? The day after
taxes are due. On that day I propose
that we murder all the top CEOs of the most successful corporations. There.
Sent.”
“You didn’t do
it,” said Corporate Man.
“I did. And you know what? Even though a large portion of our middle to
lower class citizens will be keyed up and overly stressed about getting taxes
done on time and even though their anger toward the tax dodging rich will be at
a feverish height and even though we American’s love our guns and our right to
use them… Not a single shot will be fired.”
“You’re
serious? You sent that out?” asked
Franklin Buck.
“I’ve given the
order.”
“When? I didn’t see–” Corporate Man started.
“I speak
it. It happens,” John Q Public
said. Then his eyes flared with a
startled excitement. “I’ve got it. Amend e-mail message. The call will be for a four day killing spree
from the 16th to the 19th. Then, on the 20th, everyone can
sit back and get high and mellow out.
You know. Tie it in to the ever
present 4-20 non holiday. We need a
catchy slogan for this. Oh. Got it.
Light ‘em up then light ‘em up.
Have some t-shirts made.”
“You’re sick,”
said Corporate Man.
“Oh it won’t
happen. So don’t worry.”
“Then why do
it?”
“Well, I’d say
‘to illustrate my point,’ but I doubt you’ll be around next tax season,” said
John Q Public. “But the merchandise
sales from a catchy, irreverent slogan are quite lucrative. Note.
Cancel that order for the ‘let’s fist big business the way they fisted
us’ t-shirt. I don’t think we’ll need
them now. But save the
illustration. It’s too good to waste.”
“Aren’t any of
you concerned that some maniac will take this seriously and kill someone?”
Corporate Man said, standing up and glaring at his colleagues.
“He’s right,”
said Senior Executive. “Nothing will
happen.”
“And if some
fat cat takes a bullet I doubt many tears will be shed,” Business Woman said.
“Besides,” said
John Q Public, “if someone actually killed someone we’d flood the press with
stories about the evils of marijuana and pull more funding for the war on
drugs. An increased level of fear would
follow, which is always good for business.
Especially advertising. Or, if
there happened to be some squeaky clean CEO calling attention to his or her
charitable donations and the generous wages being paid to employees at his/her
company, it might be advantageous to have him/her shot, discrediting the
movement but buying it a level of infamy that would sell slogan plastered
merchandise for decades.”
“This is insane! I refuse to buy in to your insanity,”
Corporate Man said. He pulled out his
PDA. “If you can send an e-mail, then so
can I.”
“And what would
this precious e-mail state?” asked John Q Public.
“I’m calling
upon the American people. Anyone whose
even been taken advantage of by Big Business.
All those whose money you’ve stolen.
And I’m asking them to come here.
To storm this building and tear down your financial empire.”
“Then at last
we come to it,” said John Q Public.
Corporate Man
stopped typing and looked at John Q Public, the Big Bossman.
“Come to what?”
“The finale of
our meeting. The reason you are here.”
John Q Public
narrowed his eyes and grinned.
“Your death.”
