The plight of Boxer
For those of you who don’t remember Animal Farm, Boxer is a huge draught horse, who is the symbol for the “common man”. A kind and powerful animal, with only his country’s best interests at heart.
If you haven’t read the story, you should. If you have, you should refamiliarize yourself with it.
The main differences, of course, between capitalism and communism are that in capitalism Boxer had better options.
But in the long run, Boxer’s plight never changes. Sure, he CAN better himself etc. in capitalism, but he lacks the ability.
So for Boxer, all there is, is work. And a determination to work harder, if that’s what it takes, to help his country succeed.
There may be a few Napoleons among my readers, but in the main, I think, we can all side with Boxer. In whichever system of government we get, the burden of the greater part of our society rests squarely upon our shoulders. Sure, General Motors may pay more taxes, but it is my widow’s mite that strains me hardest. And the apparatchiks in either camp are ever anxious to place more burden on us, until, like Boxer, we are rendered to glue.
“I must work harder” indeed.
Unfortunately there are fewer and fewer boxers in this world.
On a related note, I hated this book.
Hell, who didn’t?
::hand up:: I didn’t. Of course, I read it for fun, not for school.
And even at that age (somewhere between 10 and 12), I couldn’t help noticing the startling parallels to contemporary (mid-60s) society.
Plus ca change…
M
Like it or not, Animal Farm is a classic.
While many like to describe it as parallel to the evolution of the Soviet State, it also pretty much parallels the revolutionary process just about anywhere, including in both France, and yes, the United States.
I would not however count Boxer out so completely. I believe that Orwell’s depiction of Boxer in the book was very much constrained by British class prejudices. Orwell / Eric Blair was NOT an American.
An American equivalent of Boxer would be very much more CONTRARY at the minimum.
One small error. Neither General Motors nor any other business entity pays a red cent in taxes. Taxes are simply rolled into the price of the product or service. All Tax is paid by the consumer.
I have asked every elected official I have ever come into contace with this question: “How do I know when I have paid my ‘fair share’ of taxes?” I am still waiting for an answer, any answer.
Point taken, Gerry, and you are of course correct- but that serves to amplify my point, as you know. We bear the burden.