According to teh interwebz, today is [Tell a Fairy Tale Day!](https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tell-a-fairy-tale-day/) There are so many beloved options ranging from the Brothers Grimm and Mother Goose to J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, not to mention many forgotten authors and more modern writers.

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[Image credit](https://pixabay.com/photos/fantasy-fairy-tale-forest-girl-3237644/)</center>

However, there are few fairy tales as fantastic as the mythology of The State.

***

Once upon a time, great wise men with intentions pure as the driven snow established government for our protection. If not descended from gods themselves, surely their wisdom and benevolence were divinely inspired. Never mind any evidence of slavery, fraud, or errors in reasoning. They are not to be questioned.

Today, the noble system they forged protects us from monsters in distant lands and evildoers in our own realm. Reports of police brutality and military abuse are to be dismissed, because believing such tales mean you align yourself with the monsters. Foreigners are dangerous because they had *different* wise men impose *evil* governments and customs *over there,* and *their* leaders today are corrupt.

*Our* leaders are wise and benevolent today, even though they break their campaign promises and ensure protection for their cronies at the expense of everyone else. These everyday occurrences are still something to note only if you align with the other party though. And our system must be respected no matter what the people in it use it to do.

Elections mean these politicians represent and serve you, even though you may not have voted for the winner, or even voted at all. Even if you voted for the winner, when they break their promises, they still represent you. Never you mind the lack of any contract or other formal agent/principal relationship, or that you must obey their arbitrary dictates while they ignore your voice. Democracy is a virtue!

So obey the law and pay your taxes and support the troops and the police no matter what. Remember, the flag means you are free, so if you do as you are told, you will live happily ever after.*

**happily every after is not guaranteed.*