This is Not a Game

It's a hustle, and you're the mark.

After last week's yawp, I planned to meet this week with hope. As bleak as the world may feel, there's still real hope out there. Millions of Americans are questioning the con and waking up to the truth: we have enough to go around. That right there is something.

To be clear: 'we have enough' is true, assuming three-dozen billionaires are made to stop hoarding dragon's excess while thousands starve. Enough means you can still strive, succeed, and surpass your neighbors - AND no one should have to earn safety or dignity. It's called a mixed market economy. Every country in the G30 has one to some degree, including our own U.S. of A. Most of the others treat the basics: healthcare, housing, education, and paid time off - as rights, not luxury perks.

From the early drafts, this post wanted to become a poem. (By the way, my Tinderbox is full of poetry and short stories, feel free to explore. ❤️‍🔥) We have enough to go around was going to be a refrain. But every time I tried to write, the voice of middle-class morality barged in. Trolling. Scolding. Smug AF. Clearly, it had something to say. So I let it speak.

It’s a hustle, and you’re the mark. Middle-class morality tells you to play fair in a rigged game. Meanwhile, the house is stacking chips.

The poem below captures what I hear behind that trolling voice. I hope it makes you consider who's the real threat to your prosperity.

Without further ado: