Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

In reply to the discussion: John Scalzi: Being Poor [View all]

CrispyQ

(40,976 posts)
22. A beautiful sentiment:
Sun Mar 31, 2013, 11:50 AM
Mar 2013
I wish there were still undisturbed places like this where people can be wealthy with nothing.



What a Poor Fisherman Can Teach Us

One day a rich Westerner who had made millions from speculating on the stock market was strolling along the beach and saw the fisherman pulling in his boat with his meager catch.

The rich Westerner stopped and remarked “not much of a catch today”. The fisherman replied “yes not much” but explained that his small catch was enough for him and his family.

The rich Westerner asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, play with my children and have an afternoon’s rest under a coconut tree. In the evenings, I go to the local pub to see my friends, play some music, and sing a few songs….. I have a full and happy life.” replied the fisherman.

The rich Westerner ventured, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you…… You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.

With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have a large fleet. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to a city from where you can direct your huge enterprise.”

“And after that?” asked the fisherman.

“After that? That’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the rich Westerner, laughing, “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stock in your company and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” pressed the fisherman.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, move out to a small village by the sea, sleep in late every day, spend time with your family, go fishing, take afternoon naps under a coconut tree, and spend relaxing evenings with friends…”


We could have created a completely different reality. Some days my heart aches for the human species & what we could have been, but mostly I'm just pissed off that we were so stupid. The Eagles nailed it when they said, "Call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye."

I am so sorry about your beautiful island paradise.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

John Scalzi: Being Poor [View all] Fumesucker Mar 2013 OP
K&R 99Forever Mar 2013 #1
Till it happens too you- ruffburr Mar 2013 #2
This was in the comments to the piece Fumesucker Mar 2013 #3
Wow...so true bpositive Mar 2013 #4
I grew up poor and am still staving off poverty deutsey Mar 2013 #5
I know it never left my parents Skittles Mar 2013 #14
Mine did the same for me. paleotn Mar 2013 #49
I heard a quote in a movie Skittles Mar 2013 #50
Ducking into the drive-in window when you see a cop so he won't see that your plates are expired NBachers Mar 2013 #6
Then voting for Republicans because libruls "tax and spend". xtraxritical Mar 2013 #27
Some pretty heart-breaking stuff from one of my favorite sci-fi writers. Scalzi gets it.... Rowdyboy Mar 2013 #7
Message auto-removed Baraki Mar 2013 #23
First I copied and pasted all the ones I have been through.... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #8
Some years back, probably in the '90's, but perhaps even earlier, SheilaT Mar 2013 #9
The absence of a public transport system GeoWilliam750 Mar 2013 #13
Then there's the problem that there are a lot of SheilaT Mar 2013 #18
I owned a car GeoWilliam750 Mar 2013 #20
one fix away from unemployment ... shireen Mar 2013 #39
Lived my 1st 8 years in the Philippines. Phlem Mar 2013 #10
A beautiful sentiment: CrispyQ Mar 2013 #22
That is how the Hawaiians used to live. dkf Mar 2013 #28
"You don't know what you got til it's gone. Put up a parking lot". xtraxritical Mar 2013 #30
Unfortunately, if we could have been different, we would have been different. valerief Mar 2013 #36
+1. I've had the same experience (not in quite as idyllic a setting though). Did you find anything HiPointDem Mar 2013 #40
The overall "feeling" Phlem Mar 2013 #51
thanks. the same in my experience. HiPointDem Apr 2013 #52
Good rant eridani Mar 2013 #11
Thank you. CrispyQ Mar 2013 #24
Some more that I've done . . . caseymoz Mar 2013 #12
Heartbreaking samplegirl Mar 2013 #15
"Poverty... ReRe Mar 2013 #16
Being poor is having 3 jobs and still selling furniture to pay the electric bill. mountain grammy Mar 2013 #17
Compassionate conservatism. There's not a damned thing compassionate about it. CrispyQ Mar 2013 #26
"Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so." Dragonfli Mar 2013 #19
So true, Dragonfli, so true. Most of the poor are children, what choice do they have? mountain grammy Mar 2013 #21
+1000 n/t OneGrassRoot Mar 2013 #25
Being poor is Newest Reality Mar 2013 #29
THAT IS SO POWERFUL...and so true. :( OneGrassRoot Mar 2013 #31
Thank you! etherealtruth Mar 2013 #41
Thank you, that's a nice job you did on the graphic Fumesucker Mar 2013 #45
Yep, thank god for NAFTA and president Clinton's fore sight. xtraxritical Mar 2013 #32
Where the hell is DU's proud bootstrap brigade now? Orrex Mar 2013 #33
They're busy counting their 401K money and reading false statistics just1voice Mar 2013 #43
I was a food stamp single mother; no child support. Th1onein Mar 2013 #34
Excellent post. CrispyQ Mar 2013 #44
As one who is poor it astounds me. JNelson6563 Mar 2013 #35
Yes, there is "poor", and there is "poor me"! Curmudgeoness Mar 2013 #37
Crossposting a comment from another thread... OneGrassRoot Mar 2013 #38
Sorry, kittycat cartoons are much more relevant to democratic issues, LOL just1voice Mar 2013 #42
to the greatest page DonCoquixote Mar 2013 #46
And the one the 1% likes best of all: being poor is not getting involved in politics because... Jerry442 Mar 2013 #47
being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.. otherone Mar 2013 #48
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»John Scalzi: Being Poor»Reply #22