For this entry I submit to you: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain). I submit to you also, that there was an underlying reasoning behind Mr. Clemens producing literature under an alias: he was making a political statement the likes of which was unheard of during his time. You see, for me, Tom Sawyer whitewashing the alley fence is more than just imagery of kids playing tom foolery pranks on one another, but a reflection of the Government and its people. So - let me set the scene for you (characters adjusted to today's political climate):

• The fence is America: "...compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence.."
• Tom Sawyer is The new, up and coming Government: The one sent to "cover up," the fence, leaving Tom feeling sad: "...He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit...."
• Old Missis is the enforcer: "...She say she spec’ Mars Tom gwine to ax me to whitewash, an’ so she tole me go ‘long an’ ‘tend to my own business...."
• Jim is the poorer working class/Ben the wealthier: "...Jim never got back with a bucket of water under an hour – and even then somebody generally had to go after him.."
• Aunt Polly is the courts/regulating agencies: "...retiring from the field with a slipper in her hand and triumph in her eye..."

First - remember that Tom Sawyer was produced in 1876, during a time when Hayes was elected President through a very "sketchy" resolution, the National Convention had both parties absolutely divided and slinging mud at one another, slavery was disenfranchised, but black Americans were not yet given freedom and America, recovering from Civil War, was still in a state of turmoil. The problems that existed between parties and regions of peoples were not resolved, but instead, were being "glossed" over. Mark Twain saw the beginning of something disastrous occurring (where I also believe that Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn both represent a portion of the two, separate parties as well). So - with that said (knowing that Clemens did not get to know the disastrous, financially corrupted government of today) - let's see how Tom Sawyer has brought us forward to today's governmental body:

America is in trouble. We can either FIX the problems, or just whitewash over it - which is what we've done. For example, taxes and penalties are called: fees. High unemployment is called change. And, corrupt officials are called our 'best' hope. So, here comes Tom Sawyer ('ol Uncle Sam), lookin' at that Looooonnnngggg fence, realizing just how big of a job this is for just one person (or the handful of governmental agents), and finds himself overwhelmed. Then along comes Jim (the people). The people are the ones who aren't 'eager' to have to rush to bring up the water from the well - it'll get there. They don't care about 'corporate' deadlines or policies - they're just doin' what they're told, because 'ol misses said so. (We all do what we're told we have to do: work - pay taxes. Work - pay taxes). And, Jim's afraid of 'ol misses, cause if'n he don't do what he was tolds to do, 'ol misses is gonna whoop him up something fierce! Hey - wear your seatbelt, cross in cross-walks, don't slander authority!!

But Tom (uncle sam), doesn't like doing the work. And, when they ask for Jim's help he says: No - it's your job - and even if I'd wanted to do your job for you - I'd be in trouble for not doing my own work. But Tom's crafty, you see.... You want freedom? You want protection? You want money to purchase - and Jim says: YES! (to seeing a bandaged toe and letting Tom go down to the river for him). What happens? Well, Aunt Polly, the Courts and regulating agencies comes along and whaps the people out of the way to scold Uncle Sam and get him back to work! He has to "cover up," the underlying problems of America. Then comes along young Ben, and unlike Jim, Ben was eager for new "stuff" and new "things." So, after a bit, Tom hornswaggles the young lad into doing the worked, convinced that it's something he WANTS to do - but - in exchange for his apple. And, this went on and on until Tom went from poor - to the rich kid on the block.

Now - let's play this out in more 'modern,' terms. Sure - there's money - if you consider "IOU's," (which is what American paper/coin currency is worth - an IOU), wealth. But, you see - to have the "privilege," to work - NOT getting the things we have to do in our own homes and lives done, we gotta pay. An apple here, a kite there.... TAXES. Tom made something that was INVALUABLE (paper money), valuable, by learning that the value of an object or task is based upon the difficulty in attaining that object or completing that task. Soon - corporate greed - not in private enterprise, but through government and taxes, creates corrupted officials. It's not just the money - but the authority the government craves. And, if we want things like: FOOD, WATER, AIR, POWER, SHELTER - the BASIC necessities of life - we have to be willing to give up. But, what happens when we give up our apple?

We're hungry. Whitewashing the fence bought me this fake money that has no reward in it and I'm still hungry. So - in turn, the boys play the same game that Tom did (the start of capitalist America), taking from one another. But, Tom's no fool - he's in on EVERY piece of action by eventually saying: hey - I'll let you whitewash this fence for a fee - but in turn - you gotta pay me another fee to let someone else whitewash YOUR fence, and let me charge THEM a fee. And, like blind sheep who are told by the wolf that the grass is greener on the other side - we did it. We kept doing it. Until, eventually, we have doctors and lawyers who charge $200 per hour and up. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS PER HOUR!?!? That makes NO sense!! But, you see - their worth is based on the 'difficulty,' to attain that position. And, unlike the 'older' days, now - only those who have more to give are permitted this privilege. But, because they gave more, they in turn need to charge more. And this DEADLY cycle continues.

Where's ol misses? Well, the enforcers still require the people to follow the rules and need authority. But, Uncle Sam (Tom), has gained control of the authority. So, they too, must give up to Uncle Sam in turn for a piece of that authority - and the birth of law enforcement and the end of freedom falls like a deadly, silent shadow, blanketing the whole of this country. Uncle Sam's still getting his fence whitewashed - still covering up the REAL problems in America - but he's using 'ol misses (aka the cops, fbi, et. al.) to do it for him he has gotten so lazy.