"The El Dorado of Unearned Wealth"

A well regarded commentator was writing an article opposing fracking. Because the technology has been investigated to death and found innocent it was an article of mostly innuendo with references to "Gasline" and fishkills, examples that have long been put to rest but, in this era of zombies, can be resurrected as "might be" or "could happen" possibilities. Buried in this screed-disguised-as-reason was a comment on the people who sold their mineral rights to the gas miners. Most of these people are, of course, farmers. Their contracts were referred to as "the El Dorado of unearned wealth."

I always admire a well poisoner's good turn of phrase. "George Bush was born on third base and thought he hit a triple" was one of the cleverest of pointed, dismissive cruelties. Whether any part of the line is accurate, truth always takes a backseat to the bon mot. And this is especially true if there is clever collateral damage. How wonderful it is to paint all the sons of the wealthy with George Bush's brush! Makes you want to run out and burn their estates. Or at least rewrite the inheritance laws.

"The El Dorado of unearned wealth" is one of those lines. "El Dorado:" a myth believed and sought by crude, disease bearing, homicidal adventurers. "Unearned wealth." What could be worse? Unearned poverty? It does make the mind wander. How could we set this all straight? How do we define "earned" anyway? Does a neurosurgeon earn enough? What about a soldier? Or a good cleanup hitter?
Or does "earned" imply "worked for," sweated and labored for? In that light, all investment would be tainted. Interest would be a sin. (Who does that remind you of?)

All of these people have, in their mind somewhere, an unspoken hierarchy, a preferential list. Some things are inherently of more value than others. And this structure is not for we the people to decide. What we value is not up to us. Galton's large sampling must be trimmed down to include only special clubs, unions and groups. These Illuminati know the truth about us, our wants, needs and desires. They know our faults and foibles. And they know the solutions to our conflicts.

They have a warm and holy glow about them. We should be happy just to be allowed to be near them.