David, you mystified me. I tried and tried to figure out why you would write about such a parable. And at last I understood. Republicans have effectively denied that they have children.

They have come to the conclusion that only the present counts. One certainly wouldn't want to tax people in the present to build schools and infrastructure for a coming generation (or even a present generation). Republicans/your sort of conservatives have decided that government ought to be essentially free, and therefore they have made a mantra of "small government" and "No taxes." What a wonderful world that would be! unless, of course, people have children who need to be educated, who need health care, and on and on.

The truth is that we are, finally, one large community. We do need roads and bridges and schools and defense, and these things cost money. But one large group in our community wants--illogically--miraculously--to have these things without paying for them. They emphasize defense, in fact--but won't pay for the cost of a real war--the injured soldiers who return. They want a war without cost.

You know it won't work, David, and in your better moments, you resist that sort of distorted conservativism. Thanks for this parable that reminds us that there is a future, and it's going to cost a lot.