Гроздья гнева

           Theselastwouldtakenoresponsibilityforthebanksorthecompaniesbecausetheyweremenandslaves,whilethebanksweremachinesandmastersallatthesametime.Someoftheownermenwerealittleproudtobeslavestosuchcoldandpowerfulmasters.Theownermensatinthecarsandexplained.Youknowthelandispoor.You’vescrabbledatitlongenough,Godknows.

           Thesquattingtenantmennoddedandwonderedanddrewfiguresinthedust,andyes,theyknew,Godknows.Ifthedustonlywouldn’tfly.Ifthetopwouldonlystayonthesoil,itmightnotbesobad.

           Theownermenwentonleadingtotheirpoint:Youknowtheland’sgettingpoorer.Youknowwhatcottondoestotheland;robsit,sucksallthebloodoutofit.

           Thesquattersnodded—theyknew,Godknew.Iftheycouldonlyrotatethecropstheymightpumpbloodbackintotheland.

           Well,it’stoolate.Andtheownermenexplainedtheworkingsandthethinkingsofthemonsterthatwasstrongerthantheywere.Amancanholdlandifhecanjusteatandpaytaxes;hecandothat.

           Yes,hecandothatuntilhiscropsfailonedayandhehastoborrowmoneyfromthebank.

           But—yousee,abankoracompanycan’tdothat,becausethosecreaturesdon’tbreatheair,don’teatside-meat.Theybreatheprofits;theyeattheinterestonmoney.Iftheydon’tgetit,theydiethewayyoudiewithoutair,withoutside-meat.Itisasadthing,butitisso.Itisjustso.

           Thesquattingmenraisedtheireyestounderstand.Can’twejusthangon?Maybethenextyearwillbeagoodyear.