“JAM TOMORROW”
SAYS THE WHITE QUEEN
“It’s
all about governance” said the White Queen to Alice, the broadcast journalist
covering the Town Hall Tea Party for the 99%er
News Network, “ignore the fact that I, as a Queen, am now certainly a 1%er. I wasn’t born a 1%er like King Donald or King Jeb. I, too, was a
commoner until I married King Bill.” She smiled and reached for a piece of
toast.
“As the
1%ers always say, ‘Some people are born great
and others have greatness thrust upon them!’ I’m very grateful to have had
greatness thrust upon me as it gave me the opportunity to serve, to govern
and do many things to help the 99%ers. Do you like jam? After I am named Queen,
I shall make sure that the 99%ers have jam.”
“But
the 99%ers need help. Wages have fallen. The banks have sucked-up all the
money.” Alice said.
“’Sucked
up’ is not a proper journalistic term, my dear. ‘Reasonable profit’ is what I like to say. ‘Profits and bonuses,
bonuses and profits, mo-ney makes the world go ‘round!” The White Queen said in
a sing-song voice which turned snarly. “Even the 99%ers know that! What’s your question?”
“What
about wages?” Asked Alice.
“Increase
in the minimum wage and jam tomorrow,” said the White Queen. “Tell your viewers
to vote for the White Queen and I’ll raise the minimum wage, that’s the bread.
And, there’s jam to sweeten the deal!”
The
White Queen led Alice to her Tea Party table. There were dozens of detailed
position papers and proposals. It was obvious the White Queen like her
thoughts. Each had a beautiful plate on top each with a slice of bread.
“Look
at these, or go to my web site,” she said. “Being Queen is very complex but you can tell I have experience in everything, or at least something to say about everything!” She reached for a
plate with a slice of bread on it and handed it to Alice.
“Foreign relations? Security? Anti-terror?
Soft bread, tough Queen. And remember, jam tomorrow!”
WHY AM
I HERE?
Alice
was covering the Town Hall Tea Party for the 99%er News Network. She wanted to find out exactly what the White
Queen was going to do differently to
change things in the country. After all, the 99%ers were poorer, less employed,
facing a bleaker retirement and their kids were saddled with larger college
debt with fewer good job prospects
than ever before. The White Queen was part of the outgoing administration which
had continued 1%er policies many of which her husband King Bill had put into
place. Those policies made the rich richer and transformed the middle class
into a lower class,
“How
will you be different?” Alice asked.
“Let’s
be polite!” The White Queen said lifting a butter knife. “Say ‘Pretty Please
Ma’am’ like a good 99%er”.
“Pretty
please, Ma’am – how will you be different?” said Alice.
“Minimum
wage. Obamacare. And, ask the banks and 1%ers to play nice.” said the White
Queen, “and, jam tomorrow! Isn’t that
what everybody wants?”
“The
99%ers want things today! Health
care. Higher wages. Lower debt.” said Alice.
“Well,
they’re just unfamiliar with how the forward thinking of the 1%ers work, that’s
why they’re 99%ers. 1%ers live forward.
I’ve gotten things done by working with the opposition. 1%ers know that to make
changes, you have to live forward, it’s always ‘jam tomorrow’, never jam today. We have to go slowly,
dear. Be a good girl and tell the 99%ers that the White Queen lives forward, will you?”
WHAT DO
I WANT?
“The
99%ers will be confused.” Said Alice.
“I’m
not surprised!” said the White Queen. “That’s what happens when you always live
your life backwards. The 1%ers live
their lives forward. When a 99%er
such as yourself tries to live forward,
it makes you a little confused. You grasp for things like the concept of
today.”
“You
say the 99%ers are living backwards
because we want jam and health care and income equality and our needs to be met
today?” asked Alice.
“Exactly!” shouted the White Queen. “It’s jam
every OTHER day and today isn’t any
OTHER day, it’s today! That’s living life forward. All my
proposals are forward thinking!”
“Oh,
I think I’m beginning to understand.” said Alice.
“My
memory works both ways – forward and
backward!” said the White Queen. “Doesn’t yours?”
“I
can’t remember things before they
happen. But, I do remember backward, and today. Very clearly.” Said Alice.
“I
don’t want the 99%ers to remember backward.
I want the 99%ers to remember forward!”
said the White Queen. ”It’s so much easier to govern when people remember ‘jam
tomorrow, never today’.”
Based on “Through The Looking Glass” by
Lewis Carroll.
