oh the irony of it all

today i had a philosophical discussion with the president of a bank in a large city in the mid-west.  the topic centered around the economy and most specifically why we are in this situation and when it might turn around.  i, in my simplistic view of the world, contend that if we lived within our own means we would be better off.

as the banter turned to luxuries we could both live without he gazed out his window high above the city's skyline and pointed to a bridge.  there stood a man on the corner holding a cardboard sign so the long line of cars slowly making their way out of the downtown corridor could read the message.

within the next 20 minutes i was in that very same line of cars making my way to the highway.  i stopped at "his" stoplight and read the sign.  nothing remarkable or particularly special about the message.   but what i witnessed next was both remarkable and quite special in its own right. 

the man holding the sign hollered at three guys lounging in the grass off to the side of the road and they all looked up.  he then pointed to his wrist as if to indicate "time is up" and pantomimed "cut" or "stop" much like a water skier being pulled behind a boat who wants to stop would do.  he pointed to one of the lounging men who immediately got up, made his way to the median, took the sign out of the first man's hand and turned to face the flow of traffic.

my first response was outrage!  how dare those homeless men join together to panhandle.  that is just wrong.  then i began to giggle as i realized i had just witnessed a business partnership operating in full swing.  i imagined the four men deciding which corner they would work, when they would begin working, how long each shift would last and how they would divide the money up equally between themselves regardless of who brought in the most money.

as the light turned green i looked out my car window and i could see the bank president's light in his office.  i used my very best mental telepathy powers to send him a message that said - hey, mr. bank president, i just witnessed four guys making a living.  oh, and by the way - i am quite sure they are living within their means.