Nightmare…Everything’s for Profit

To The Editor:
I woke up from a nightmare. Yes, I was still on earth in the U. S. A., in Villas. But the nightmare wouldn’t go away.
I can’t shake this incredible awareness. I’m struggling to free my family and me from this sticky web. I know it’s supposed to be harmless, even good for me. I’m told I won’t even have to think when I’m fully wrapped in this cozy cocoon but still I struggle before even my breath is taken away.
Ah. I get it —not to worry — the web, yes — its name is Profit, Yes, look over there, schools for profit. And over there, prisons for profit. And my, oh my, healthcare for profit. Legislators for profit. Look there, legislation for profit. I even see a little label on legislation; it’s tiny but I can just read, ah, American Legislative Exchange Council, yes, legislators can just get elected and for profit legislation is written for them. (I remember an old saying, why re-invent the wheel?)
What else can I find for profit? Oh! Churches for profit. Environment for profit. Non-profits for profit.
I’m getting the hang of this web. War for profit, of course. Elections for profit, check. Justice for profit, Supreme Court for profit, hmmm. Oh, my wrapped coins, why aren’t they for profit? Because I’m inside the sticky web? Is this fair?
I think I’ll just roll over a little while. Then maybe I’ll wake up and poke a hole in my web. I just might find some non-profit stuff and people like Mother Theresa and the common good and the League of Women Voters and public schools and neighbors and Paul Wellstone and homemade ice cream and the post office (that’s really not for profit).
MARY READER
Villas