A MODERN DAY FAIRY TALE

     Once upon a time there was a minor functionary in a large kingdom who decided to leave that one and live in a rather smaller one, really a principality, rather than a kingdom. There, he felt, he might become a big toad in a small pond and so he moved there.
     He took some positions, all the time with his eye on the prize, the top of the kingdom's ruling class. He took notes about the principality and saw what he could do. To be true, and perhaps kind, he had some good plans and might have truly wished to do some benefit, but as in many things like this, the bad overtakes the good, and when he saw what he could do for himself and his friends, it took over his life, mind,body and soul.
     He reached the pinnacle of the ruling class and brought along with him his sly vizier, De White, and several of his toadies, yes men and women all, as his ego was sure to need it. And to work he went, spending much of the kingdom's funds, but knowing that he could simply raise the taxes levied upon the residents of the kingdom. He had an extremely pompous man who would vet his writings and eventually had one of his toadies installed as editor of the Kingdom Crier along with several other minions in other Crier positions. He even was able to reverse the long time established rule of term limits, as he wished to remain king forever and ever.
     In order to insure that, our wayward king engaged rumor mongers and name callers who started rumors and nasty tales about anyone who opposed this dictator king. The residents of the kingdom, though, began to finally hear the voices of the opposition, those who followed a long tradition of the kingdom in always wanting more, better conditions, a better life for the residents. The dictator king became so flustered that he made many grave errors, such as throwing five million dollars away, obsessing on projects which were costly, unnecessary and of no real value to the kingdom, only to the ego of the dictator. His fiscal records and funds were violated by him and his vizier.
     Now there is great tension in the kingdom but the opposition is confident that they will succeed and another year or two should be the start of a new era in the kingdom. The dictator and his evil vizier will be retired, put to pasture, and finally, sense will prevail once more in the ruling of the principality. Fiscal policies will be sane, with greater use of intelligent advisers, attorneys, and better providers of services.
     There is no happily ever after yet here in the kingdom, but it will be so one day soon.