Occasional Tales

Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea. There's been a shift in the Marjonian climate so that most people are now unable to grow enough food, while 10% who have access to springs can produce more than they need and use that power to control the rest of the population. They also say that even if the breadfruit was shared out, there still wouldn't be enough. Besides, what's their motivation to do any work if they don't benefit from it? The Community Council doesn't know what to do. The head of the Council suggests that hardship is a price worth paying so that no one's forced to do what they don't want to. Is the Community Council still right? Is hardship a price worth paying to stave off tyranny? If you're one of Marjon's starving masses, then it'd probably be tyranny all the way, although tyrants don't seem to be bothered about fairness, even the ones who claim they're acting on behalf of the people. But ordinary people are not renowned for...

And why do they call it breadfruit? We take a trip to the tropical paradise of Marjon. The people live an idyllic life and are governed by a Community Council. All decisions must be unanimous. One night someone proposes that their crops should be owned collectively and shared out evenly according to need. The Marxists have been in town peddling their own brand of pseudo-religious irrationality. No one is much interested. It seems to promote laziness since anyone can help themselves to the communal store of breadfruit. No one is in need anyway, and if they want more, they can grow more. Is the council member right? Well, in Marjon, the answer seems to be yes. If no one wants food, then there seems no point in a communal store of food. Society seems happy and stable, but if things went pear-shaped – unlikely though that prospect seems to be – then the Marjonians might be up in arms and down in breadfruit. But even if everything wasn't so idyllic, why should there be any sharing? My s...