What Are We Doing?

The Little Red Hen (revisited) (August 28, 2015)

Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who lived in a desert. She lived alongside a noisy yellow duck.

One day the little red hen found a water system that needed a lot of work. The little red hen had an idea: Fix the water system!

The little red hen asked her friend the noisy yellow duck, Will you help me fix the water system?

Not I, quacked the noisy yellow duck. It will take too much money.

Then I will do it myself, said the little red hen. So the little red hen fixed the water system all by herself, and it was enjoyed by all, including the noisy yellow duck, and their new neighbors; a lazy dog, and a sleepy cat.

Eighteen years later, the lazy dog started barking about the little red hen’s water system, so the noisy yellow duck formed a committee to study the issue.

What are you planning to do with my water system, the little red hen asked the noisy duck.

Nothing, quacked the noisy yellow duck. It looks to be more trouble than it’s worth.

Then I’ll keep running it, replied the little red hen. So the little red hen ran the water system all by herself.

Five years later, the lazy dog again started barking about the little red hen’s water system, so the noisy yellow duck formed another committee to study the issue.

What are you planning to do with my water system, the little red hen asked the noisy duck.

Nothing, quacked the noisy yellow duck. It still looks to be more trouble than it’s worth.

Then I’ll keep running it, replied the little red hen. So the little red hen brought in outside investors who had experience running a water system, and the money to expand it and make repairs and improvements.

Three years later, the lazy dog barked so much about the water system than even the sleepy cat awoke to find out what was going on. Seeing this, the noisy yellow duck quacked that everyone wanted something done, so it hired attorneys and consultants and experts from near and far and spent millions studying the issue, and even more money convincing the other animals that they were unhappy with the little red hen’s water system.

The little red hen asked the noisy yellow duck, What do you want to change about my water system?

The noisy yellow duck quacked, I want to own it so I have control of the water.

The little red hen asked the lazy dog, What do you want change about my water system?

The lazy dog barked, I want to be able to use as much water as I want without having to pay more.

The little red hen asked the sleepy cat, What do you want change about my water system?

The sleepy cat purred, You’re doing a terrible job. I think the noisy yellow duck would do it better.

The little red hen asked everyone, Who wants to help me improve the the way we approach water management so everyone will be happy?

Not I, quacked the noisy yellow duck.

Not I, barked the lazy dog.

Not I, purred the sleepy cat.

Then you give me no choice, said the little red hen. So the little red hen found another outside investor with experience running a water system, and the money to expand it and make repairs and improvements.

You’re making a fortune, quacked the noisy yellow duck. I want some of that money!

You’re making a fortune, barked the lazy dog. The noisy yellow duck promised me I would be able to continue to use as much water as I wanted without having to pay more, no matter what.

You’re making a fortune, purred the sleepy cat. That doesn’t seem right somehow.

Too late! said the little red hen. You had 27 years to pitch in, and you didn’t care enough to lift a finger.

So the moral of the story is: Those who say no to contributing do not deserve the benefits of the final product.

— Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.