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THE RISE AND FALL OF THE GREEDY
Several days ago, we watched a parable of economics play out before our
very eyes. We had gone to Frontera
Audubon, a favorite birding site in
Weslaco, Texas, and
were sitting near a bird feeding station watching the activity. Noisy
chachalacas, silent white-tipped doves, saucy kiskadees and a darting
black crested titmouse were all enjoying the fresh-cut orange halves, a
tasty peanut-butter concoction, and bird seed that had fallen from several
hanging feeders.
However, several squirrels had invaded the birds’ dining room. One of
them was fat, persistent, and frustrated. Time after time, he would creep
out to the end of the tree branch nearest to the largest hanging bird
feeder, but it was just beyond his reach. Closer branches were just small
twigs that could not hold his weight. He would gaze longingly at the bird
feeder he could not quite touch, and then retreat back down the tree trunk
in obvious disgust.
The bird feeder was of a common design: a clear plastic tube of about
two inches in diameter and perhaps fifteen inches long. It was suspended
by a strong, thin wire from a tree branch high above and filled to the
brim with a bird seed mixture. Birds could easily reach the food inside.
Tiny perch rails were mounted below several window-like holes in the
plastic walls of the feeder. Winged creatures could fly to the feeder,
perch on the little rails and eat bird seed to their heart’s content
through the window holes.
Squirrels, however, cannot fly! They do like to eat bird seed, though,
and not having wings does not keep them from wanting to feast upon that
forbidden treat! Again and again, that greedy plus-sized squirrel would
climb that same tree, scamper down the branch toward the bird feeder, and
stretch himself further each time toward his culinary goal.
Finally, he could stand it no longer. He backed up along the branch,
paused just a moment, then ran as fast as he could toward that hanging
temptation. At the end of the branch, he jumped, flinging himself out into
thin air in a desperate attempt to satisfy his greed. His front paws
reached the bird feeder but the slippery plastic gave him no place to
grasp. Down he slipped, fighting and pawing desperately for a foot hold he
could not find. Great was the fall of that greedy squirrel for he hit the
ground below with a bone-chilling thud, empty-handed!
As the squirrel stood up slowly, shook his head and limped away into
the underbrush, we smiled at the justice of the animal world. Greed isn’t
good, and has painful consequences. Had the squirrel learned this lesson?
Have Wall Street financiers and investment bankers learned it? Have we?
8 April 2009 - mshr |