24 April 2009 - ruled the waves

< yesterday -- tomorrow >

Piracy Then and Now

Back when Barbary waived the rules,
Particularly the rule on slaves,
At least we knew where to find the fools,
Because Mercator ruled the waves.

Today the fools are at home somewhere
Rolling somebody else’s dice,
Or leaning back in an office chair
And calculating the lowest price.

clue:

The shipping companies could reduce piracy to a low level all on their own, without government help, but they’ve decided that it’s cheaper to live with it.

take oh take this clue away

the Daily Whale || copyright 2009, 2024 Jay J.P. Scott <jay@satirist.org>