57. Decay

Ex-hippies from the 70's getting Wall Street jobs. You spend all your idealistic youth sticking it to the Man, only to sell out later. Become the thing you hated most. Just another suit feeding the fat cats way up, most likely helping yourself to the rich pickings while you were at it.

At day's end, you give yourself a pat on your back, mighty pleased with yourself for a good day's work. Smiling that Cheshire Cat smile. Who gives a shit about what you do. You're another Kenneth Lay in the making. Another Jeff Skilling. As long as the share values are up. Screw the masses. The little people. Like Eddie Vedder would say, it's evolution baby.

But hey, profit is the way of life ain't it? Let's not kid ourselves. Everything looks justifiable when you get that spanking new 5 series beemer. That palace in the sky. Hot babes just waiting to get their paws on you. Greed is good. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

It's not a question of conscience. It's a question of getting as much as you can, while you can. Do it with a straight face. Practice every day in the mirror. Just make do with hating what you see once in a while. Don't worry, that feeling won't stay. Convince yourself long enough, and you may actually start believing the righteousness of your way of life. That's not the question here.

To be a rock and not to roll? Now that is the question.

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost;" - J.R.R. Tolkien