The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

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Chapter 24 • Booting Production
Another voice called out, “Will it raise shoe prices?”
“It will raise the income of shoemakers,” replied the Lord, who
nodded ponderously. “We certainly hope to do all we can to help the
shoemakers in pursuit of a reasonable standard of living.”
Jonathan thought of Davy and his mom. “How much harder it’ll
be to buy shoes from now on!”
Then a reporter, kneeling and mostly hidden by the throng,
shouted from the very front of the platform, “Can you say what your
programme will be next year?”
Ponzi mumbled, “Uh, hmm, what did you say?”
“Your programme. What’s your plan for next year?” asked the
reporter impatiently.
“Of course,” said the High Lord, pausing to draw deeply from
his cigar. “Uh huh. Ahem. Well, I believe that it is appropriate for
me – to take the opportunity of this special press conference – to
announce that next year we plan to pay everyone on the great island
of Corrumpo not to produce anything.”
There was a collective gasp from the audience. “Everyone?”
“No kidding?” “Wow! That’ll cost a fortune!” “But will it work?”
“Work?” said Lord Ponzi, shaking himself out of his stupor.
“Will it stop people from producing?”
“Oh sure,” he barely concealing a yawn. “We’ve had a pilot
project in our front agency for years, and,” said the Lord, a
note of sleepy pride crept into his voice, “We’ve never produced
anything.”
At that moment, someone came up beside High Lord Ponzi
and announced the end of the conference. The group of reporters
surrounding the platform dissolved, abandoning the crowd seated
in the auditorium. Jonathan blinked hard twice when he noted
an almost imperceptible, sudden droop in Ponzi’s posture – as if
someone had snipped a string overhead that was holding him erect.
The house lights dimmed as Ponzi was led off stage to a smokefi
lled, back room.