Harvey’s world

By Esther E. Steeves

Once upon a time, Canadians were very fond of wine and gardens. However, one national leader came very close to destroying the country. This is how it all happened:

Young, and sporting a hockey jersey on his days off, he looked like the kind of guy you would want running the country; he was one of them. He even liked to garden and drink wine, a pastime of the masses. Canadians optimistically sat back, sighed with relief and awaited the changes he was sure to make, changes that would undoubtedly be to their benefit.

Alas, the new leader did no such thing. Instead, while he maintained his hip appearance, he mercilessly raised taxes and cut government programs, tearing the country’s economy apart.

Soon the nation that was once ranked number one by the UN slipped to fourteenth in international rankings. Citizens who once led happy lives could barely afford to garden and drink wine. Before long, poeple were sick of their new leader, and his hockey jersey too. He wasn’t one of them any longer, and he certainly didn’t have their best interests at heart.

The cost of living rose and new taxes were implemented to cover the forecasted national debt of $30 million. Meanwhile, though most Harveyites struggled just to make ends meet, the country’s leader earned more money than almost any other leader. He wasn’t concerned about middle class budgets or the well being of the populace. He wanted glory and a country that catered to the elite.

Government housing began charging higher rent than private housing, driving the less fortunate onto the street. However, the quality of public housing wasn’t enhanced by the proceeds of the increased rent, leaving even destitute renters in disgusting cramped living spaces. Instead, the additional profits went directly to research.

Citizens became impoverished and many emigrated to better countries: places where quality housing cost less, where leaders understood the needs of the people they led and where paying taxes earned people a decent lifestyle, unlike the fourteenth-place country they came from. They were tired of living in the jurisdiction of Harvey, which soon wound up ranked dead last in the UN ranking thanks to their despotic leader, who wore his jersey to the bitter end but never really understood the nature of the people.

His successor froze taxes and the rent on government housing for a while so people could get back on their feet, and replaced valuable programs that had been cut. Soon, the country was gaining back not only its citizens, but its reputation as well. As it turned out, debt had never been the country’s problem; all it needed was a little organization.

Thereafter, however, wine and gardens lost all appeal and were discarded, having become extremely unpopular.

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