The Mother, the Boy, and the Cookie Jar

Granting freedom raises rulers' own wealth,

The ruled do better with moderation,

So why are there harsh rules, broken in stealth?

How to explain this sad situation?


Suppose a mother wants her son to choose,

Suppose the son prefers moderation,

All is well, you say, there's no way to lose,

If only that applied to our nation!


Not so fast, I say, the outcome's not clear,

The mother wants her son to be naughty,

The son wants rules to rebel from and fear,

He winds up stealing, she winds up haughty.


Their acting for the other brings them down,

In empathy's ocean, we sometimes drown.


[Part II?]





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