A GRIM TALE

HEY HO,HEY HO, AND OFF (TO) WORK WE GO!

Once upon a time

Once upon a time in a land flowing with gold there were rich bankers. They lived in a city with walled streets. The bankers possessed a magic mirror. They liked to look into it to ask: "Who is the fairest and wisest in the land?" The mirror always replied: "You bankers are the fairest and wisest in the land." And so they went out to accumulate untold wealth.

During this time a young girl called Angela became a leader in the land and one day when asked by the bankers again: "Who is the fairest and wisest in the land?" the mirror answered. "You bankers are the fairest and wisest here but there is one even fairer and wiser in the land."

The bankers were unhappy and in revenge they became greedier and invented magic financial instruments that were highly toxic to poison Angela.

As the years passed Angela moved into a large house in the forest where there were seven little men. They had all played a role in building the house but lived in separate wings where they could enjoy their independence. They looked after the interests of the people of the land who were once prosperous and happy but were now seeing a decline in their living standards due to the bankers taking and spending their money.

One day when they came together to sit at the table to discuss affairs they were surprised to see Angela sitting at the head of the table.

First little man: Who is sitting in my place

Second little man: Who is taking from my plate

Third little man: Who is negotiating with the unions

Fourth little man: Who is reforming taxes

Fifth little man: Who is copying my policies

Sixth little man: Who is cutting back on spending

Seventh little man: Who is creating jobs

But they appreciated Angela and said: "If you agree with us and would like to look after the economy and establish order you can stay." Although they wanted to protect Angela from being poisoned by the evil bankers who were threatening to bring the house down, they spent so much time arguing and lining up for photographic sessions they failed to see the walls of the house crumbling around them.

Then one day Angela decided to act by herself to help her people. This decidedly confused the seven little men who did not know how to respond. But they had run out of money and still could not agree on how to repair the damage and make the people prosperous and happy again.