The Republic of Dumbovia (A Parable)

In the olden days, a great country arose in the West.  Based on the concepts of freedom and social responsibility, the Republic of Dumbovia became a world power - spreading its influence and style of government to the four corners of the civilized world.  Other nations wanted to be its allies and friends, and it become the central hub of world power and finance.

But all was not well in Dumbovia.  The poor had very little in the way of possessions or opportunity.  "Certainly, we cannot allow this to be!  We are such a wise and enlightened country - nobody should go hungry or be ill in our fair land," decreed the politicians.  "We should provide for these unfortunates!"

And it was made so, and it became law in Dumbovia that no person would ever be sick or hungry.  Since Dumbovia was the center of global commerce, they could well afford the small tax necessary to quiet their collective social conscience.  And, indeed, the suffering of the poor was greatly relieved.  

But, the poor were still poor, and could never hope to attain the wealth and power of the average citizen of Dumbovia.  It seemed that they were forever destined to be a lesser class of people, forever shunned, but provided for.  Some complained it was as if they were treated like pets of the rich and powerful.

This hurt the pride and conscience of the ruling classes.  To compensate, even more social programs were enacted, designed to help the less fortune attain a higher position in society.  And a great many of them took full advantage of these programs.  But others remained in their downtrodden circumstance, unable or unwilling to take advantage of the ladder to affluence, and believing it would always be just outside their grasp.

Some politicians decried these oppressive living conditions, and attempted to enact even more social programs to aid the poor and illiterate.  Other politicians cried, "Enough!," claiming that the poor had sufficient help and opportunity and simply lacked the willpower and initiative to better themselves.

So the oppressed, not being stupid, voted for the first group of politicians.  And they received more social programs and benefits - paid for by the wealthy upper-class socialites, who were by that time beginning to become quite irked at being forced to pay for all those social programs.

Class warfare eventually erupted, pitting the oppressed against the wealthy.  Behind the scenes politicians flamed the fires by promising more and more trinkets to whichever side seemed to have the most voting members.

Eventually, the oppressed gained the upper hand.  Once they achieved a clear majority and elected sufficient numbers of willing politicians, they enacted laws seizing property and money with impunity, so long as it was "for the common good."

In time, the oppressed greatly overwhelmed the wealthy, both in numbers and in political power.  Slowly, the numbers of the wealthy faded.  Some simply gave up, overcome by the whims of modern government.  Others left the country, looking for more favorable treatment elsewhere.

And it came to pass that there were no longer sufficient wealthy individuals left to pay for all the grand social programs.  In the resulting uprising, the government fell under the withering ire of the masses who had been trained for generations that entitlement is always superior to initiative.

Finally, the great Republic of Dumbovia was no more, having collapsed under the weight of crushing public debt and lack of any useful commerce or business opportunities.

And Dumbovia assumed it's rightful place as a footnote in history, under the chapter on "Failed Social Experiments."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the East, a great country arose, based on...