The Pig and the Horse

The Creatures had gathered at the usual place to hear what the candidates would say. It was time to embrace who would make their best case and so be declared Boss for the day. They shifted their feet and pawed at the ground as the excitement could be cut with a knife. They were hanging around to hear them expound on who would make better their life. The contest was close between a Pig and a Horse as others had dropped from the race. Except a poor Duck who had run out of luck and vanished without leaving a trace. This was a great pity as many would state since the Duck had been their first choice. He had promised them straight to carry his weight and to give angry voters a voice. The Creatures were tired of what had transpired when a Skunk had been elected to lead. It was strongly desired that the Skunk should retire when he was charged with selling their feed. So they bided their time to await the debate by deriding those not of their view. On how their own State would suffer a fate should the other one win by a few. Some liked the Pig who was clever and smart as it promised to quickly proceed with a plan from the heart and how it would start to fulfill all their wants and their needs. Some liked the Horse who was majestic and brash and promised to live within means. Not being too rash in spending their cash where everyone worked for their greens. The candidates arrived and were soundly greeted by an ovation of cheers and applause. The arguments less heated as the Creatures were seated and they stopped banging their hoofs and their paws. The Pig would go first as the Horse had been late by a very strange turn of events. He had been forced to wait when locked in a gate by someone with no common sense. 'I'm a humble Pig and freely admit to the fault of caring too much. But I would be a good fit and I'm here to commit to govern with the lightest of touch.' 'Some say you must work by the sweat of your brow to gather and hunt for the day. But I tell you right now... not even a Cow will be forced into pasture to graze.' 'For the State will provide all that you need no matter what the future may toss. And you'll find that my breed is up to the deed to be elected to serve as your Boss.' The audience cheered at the thought of such gain where work would no longer be done. And to put away strain when all would attain a lifestyle to bask in the sun. The Pig sat down as the Horse rose to its feet to challenge the Pig on its words. It would not be discreet if it hoped to compete with all the silly things it had just heard. 'I appeal to those who are of sound mind and understand the value of strife. That our daily grind is far more aligned with how a Creature should live out their life.' 'Nothing of value can be given by some where the cost will no longer be shared. A time will come when you have nothing but crumbs and the Pig will no longer care.' 'You will have grown lazy and lost all your skill and given your freedoms away. So you vote in one hour and if you give the Pig power, you'll get more than a Boss for a day.' The Creatures were quiet as they pondered the thought that the Horse had so strongly made. And they carefully sought not to be caught by the ease that the Pig had conveyed. The vote was taken and no Creature was stunned by a result that any fool could see. The Horse was shunned as the Pig had won... so who doesn't love something for free? The End *For anyone interested, I will be posting my web cartoon, 'Bob's your Uncle' on my homepage every second day or so.