Prosperity - A Fable

There were two countries existing side-by-side, one was very prosperous and the other only marginally prosperous. The prosperous country had a goose that laid eggs of gold. The marginally prosperous country did not have such a goose and was covetous of the neighbor and their good fortune in having such a goose. The trade between the two countries provided a good standard of living for the marginally prosperous country. The prosperous country was continually being asked by the marginally prosperous country to let them have the goose that laid eggs of gold. They were convinced that the only difference between the two countries was that singular goose that laid eggs of gold. Partly that was right, those eggs did increase the net worth of the prosperous country. Through a series of events, the marginally prosperous country came in possession of the goose. It made the citizens of the prosperous country sad but they accepted the loss of their goose. The marginally prosperous country was elated and immediately announced that they would care for the goose better than the other country. Even better, they had schemes that would increase the egg output of the goose and thereby improve the net worth of their country quickly. A committee was announced to care for the goose and increase egg productivity. The prosperous country had an education system that taught: "Goose Husbandry", "Feeds And Nutrients", "Soils For Enhanced Yields", "Proper Manuring" and "Livestock Contentment." Some attributes of the citizens were: hard work, responsibility, frugality, cheerfulness and treating everyone equally. The marginally prosperous country had an education system that taught: "Equality Of Outcomes", Group Thinking Is Best", "It Takes A Village", "Law - Making It Work For You" and "Sexuality And Enjoyment." Some of the attributes of it's citizens were: short work hours, long vacations, allowing the government to pay for wants, suing when offended, never admitting when wrong and committees can solve all problems. The committee, now in charge of the goose, decided to mate the goose and see if it could reproduce other geese that could lay eggs of gold. They did not read the literature that explained that this could not be done, due to not having studied the proper subjects. They did not consult the prosperous country because they were suspicious they would not receive the truth. The goose began to lay fewer eggs. The committee was called to task for this, and it resulted in a decision to redouble the efforts to get goose offspring. The goose committee, realizing how valuable they were, insisted on pay raises and perks - which were granted. The goose committee called on experts in their country to come up with suggestions on how to improve egg output. Some of these were: put the goose in a community where it would learn that it's eggs were needed by the country, play charming music during mating time, give the goose only organic food, study to see of it's air is polluted, place a crystal in each corner of the pen, purge the goose once per week to clear out it's bowels, on days of no production either beat the goose with a stick, or use shock therapy - the committee tried them all. The goose was now near death, and in an act of desperation, they decided to return the goose to the prosperous country to see if they could revive it. The prosperous country, without their goose, were now in difficult times. They were overjoyed at the return of the goose. However, they soon discovered the truth, the goose was dying; furthermore, there was nothing that could be done, death was inevitable. When the goose died the marginally prosperous country blamed the other country for not doing anything right. They vilified the productive country's citizens as always having been insensitive to the goose and extolled their committee as having done such a great job with the goose. With the unavailability of eggs of gold, both countries went into decline and the standard of living decreased for everybody.