Red States and Blue States



Once upon a time there was an oak tree
that stood strong and imposing;
it was the biggest and tallest tree in the forest.
One year, in mid-summer, its lowest branches
began to turn yellow ― a sign of high stress and
poor nutrition. 

"Will you help us?" the lowest branches asked the tree.
"Please send us more nourishment from the roots,
and tell the higher branches to allow us to get more sun?" they pleaded.

The tree replied, "There are no free nutrition in our roots and I will not ask
the high branches to ration the sun; they high branches got to the top of the canopy by their hard work and their perseverance. You should have done the same.

So that winter the lowest branches died.

The next year, in mid-summer, the middle branches
began to turn yellow―a sign of high stress and
poor nutrition. 

"Will you help us?" the middle branches asked the tree.
"Please send us more nourishment from the roots,
and tell the higher branches to allow us to get more sun?" they pleaded.

The tree replied, "There are no free nutrition in our roots and I will not ask
the high branches to ration the sun; they high branches got to the top of the canopy by their hard work and their perseverance. You should have done the same.

So that winter the middle branches died.

In this, the third year, in mid-summer, the highest branches
began to turn yellow ―a sign of high stress and
poor nutrition. 

"Will you help us?" the highest branches asked the tree.
"Please send us more nourishment from the roots? We have
lots of energy from the sun that we can sent to you," they pleaded.

The tree replied, "Without the energy from the middle and low branches,
I am afraid that the roots cannot make enough nutrition for you and me,
so although I would like to send you some nutrition, I am unable to do so.

So that winter the highest branches died.

The tree lived another year, but there were no branches to help make
the nutrition in the roots.

So that winter, of the fourth year without malice and forethought,

the tree died.   


by
James A. Porter


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