JH 22 - The Beast at LTD

If you believe your wages and benefits are worth feeding a beast that you have no control over or promises to potentially eliminate you all together, would you keep feeding the beast?  There has been talk heard by some of our less senior wage earners that they will gladly feed the beast.  But I say to you that this is a beast that must be killed.  It must be made so helpless and docile that the beast cannot harm us any longer.  I think that the only solution is to kill the beast.  Hear then the story of the beast of LTD.

There is a beast at LTD.  If you kill the hungry beast you need not fear for your lives or your victuals.  It grows and consumes more than it will ever provide. At  first the beast seemed sleek and safe. Tame and lovely to look at.  Controlled to a limited pasture, the beast was seen as a "pilot project".   Now there were many who thought that the best pasture was a silly place to place this beast. But these were just serfs who served the lord of the castle. The lord of the castle did not listen to serfs.  The lord of the castle wanted the beast to prove that it could eat the pasture clean more quickly than the other animals who proved their worth to the lands around the castle for more than 30 years.  And until the pasture is ready the new beast is eating the seed corn.  There will be nothing in the future because of this reckless gamble by the lord of the castle.

The serfs were then told to work for less and expect less over the years.  The younger serfs were told that some of them will be only needed part of the time or not at all.  The lord of the castle said that he would would not care for these part time young serfs in their old age or if they become disabled.  When the serfs worried aloud the lord of the castle said that the other serfs in the village will gladly contract to work for the lord of the castle for less, for have you not seen my land in the Ride Source Kingdom.  There they labor for far less and if they complain it is off with their heads without so much as by your leave.  The serfs trembled but knew the new beast was the real problem.

The lord of the castle and his earls and barons loved the new beast and they kept feeding it.  Poor serfs and their families began to fear the coming famine caused by the beast.  The new big beast was beautiful and sleek and many in the nation will want to see it once loosed to the pasture.  And then the lord of the castle said even the older serfs would not be needed in the same way as before.  The beast would need special care givers selected by the lord of the castle - even if you were the longest serving serf with the best of abilities and experience.  The beast is special you see.

The serfs began to grumble and talk to each other.  We must get rid of this beast.  The lord is mistaken - again!  Is it not he that brought us the blue pigs who now are tied to posts in the barn.  And then there was the flying beast that catches fire when it runs too fast!  The serfs could not trust the judgement of the lord of the castle and they grumbled.  But then the serf named Joe whispered "we must kill the new beautiful beast".  "It eats too much and the lord of the castle no longer appreciates the work of me and his other loyal serfs."  Other serfs heard Joe and were scared.  But the lord of the castle loves the beast - surely he will starve us if we kill the beast they worried aloud.  Joe whispered "killing the beast saves the seed corn and we can live another day".  The serfs understood and agreed with Joe that the beast must be killed.

The oldest serf at the castle said yes the beast is dangerous.  The beast must be magical and demonic for he has turned our younger serfs against the older serfs who have struggled against the lord of the castle before.  The old serf said we must stand together to kill the beast.  We are valiant and able.  Our work has made us hard while the lord of the castle is soft and senseless.  The serfs knew the villagers feared the new beautiful beast too.  If the  serfs can awaken the villagers and they might be able to help kill the beast.  With the death of the beast the serfs will be united, their families cared for and the village happy that the beast does not rob them of taxes for the whims of the lord of the castle.  The serfs began to plan.  They talked quietly lest the beast and his keepers hear. 

But the beast must surely be killed or many of us will be used to feed this beast. But oh no, they have named the beast, it is known as EmX.  The serfs said, " Joe they love the beast too much".  If we kill it we will face the greatest problems ever.  Joe yelled to his other serfs, if we act in solidarity - united - we can kill the beast, save our jobs and provide for our families.  If the village is with us the lord of the castle will be forced to be fair or the villagers may burn the castle.  But how?  But how? the serfs cried.  Joe will ponder with his allies and friends and reveal the plan to kill the beast soon, before it is too late.  Lay low, talk low, trust no sergeant at arms or baron of the castle for they speak to each other in hushed tones to kill us all.  All beware.

Solidarity Forever fellow serfs,
Joe Hill

Joe Hill 22                 You can contact Joe Hill at joehill_1915@hotmail.com