The Ploughman and the Wolf: An Aesop Fable in Modern Political Scavenging

Drawing parallels of events and occurrences in time comes naturally to me, particularly when it comes to matters of civic life, namely that of the indifference which too many of our political class hold toward their constituents.

Reading through Aesop’s Fables, one struck me as timely and relevant to the woes of the Western world: the story of the Ploughman and the Wolf:

‘There was a ploughman who had just unharnessed his team of oxen and was leading them to the drinking-trough. Just then, a famished wolf who had been searching for food came across the plough and began straight away to lick the inner surfaces of the yoke, savouring the taste of oxen.

Bit by bit, without his noticing, the wolf’s neck went down into the yoke and got stuck there. Unable to free himself, the wolf dragged the plough into the furrow.

The ploughman returned and discovered the wolf caught in the plough. He said to him:

“Ah! You scoundrel-head, you! If only you would give up pillage and robbery and put yourself to work on the land!”’‍ ‍

Moral of the story: The wicked are not credible, and they really ought to do something useful once in a while.

Like the hungry wolf who got caught with his nose too far in the trough, so do politicians need to be careful of getting caught pillaging the people of their hard earned toil and money. Author’s own AI-generated image reflecting the Australian landscape.

My home nation of Australia is right now facing a collapse of her cultural heritage and a way of life that was, until recently, regarded as the envy of the world.

The characters in charge of the government have no love for aspirational citizens exercising any brand of self determination, preferring to have everyone relying on government handouts — which to any thinking person is ridiculous and illogical for when the revenue dries up, so does the largesse. Then again, they appear not to consider anything beyond their short term tenure of clinging to power by any means.

Australia is already subject to some of the world’s most draconian safety regulations in every field of endeavour, designed to squash the entrepreneurial spirit among those who aim for more than a government stipend. Shortly, it is expected that new laws will be introduced to bring in even more taxes — death tax to extinguish intergenerational wealth; increased taxes on our investments including shares and property; in addition to an ever increasing immigration program, one that most people recognise is outpacing the nation’s ability to provide for necessary services to sustain a first world nation.

So, when I read about the wolf who pillages and robs, to then come looking for scraps from the hard earned toil of the farmer and his plough, I cannot help but see this in the mirroring light of politicians sitting around tables in their political bubbles together, lecturing the workers of this nation, spending far more than they can garner from us, and then who come looking for scraps of what else they can leach from our efforts to make up for their irresponsible gambling of our futures.

It is quite the understatement to say that our current crop of politicians are not credible characters, and they really should consider doing something useful. Sadly, this cohort will leave their cushy parliamentary benches with an over-generous superannuation and payouts for life in some cases of ministerial tenures.

One wonders if they will be able to cope with a useful existence!