To the Privileged Go the Spoils

Does anybody remember that scene in the Hunger Games where Katniss shoots an arrow through the apple in the piggs mouth? As she's competing for points in a gruesome game of life and death, the people responsible for her bleak situation—the same people who made everyone in District 12 grow up impoverished and oppressed—didn't even have the decency to wait before commencing their gluttonous royal feast, complete with a whole roasted pig. My ability to use The Hunger Games to point out issues in our society, too on the nose to be considered an allegory, is a somewhat sad achievement. The United Kingdom is going through a cost of living crisis, because of a global pandemic and a cantankerous oil supplier falling out of favor due to a "special operation" gunning for democracy, and of course Brexit. People are wearing indoor-coates to save money on their gas and electric bills and there has been a sharp increase in foodbanks. Meanwhile, millions of pounds from compulsory tax payments subsidize the "Members' Dining Room" at the House of Commons. For starters, can I interest you in a balsamic and thyme honey beetroot tartar with golden cross goats' cheese mousse, Granny Smith apple and micro celery? And for the lady, pressed duck leg and caper terrine with celeriac and mustard rémoulade and sourdough toast, perhaps? Or maybe the pan scarred mackerel with heritage tomato ceviche, elderflower gel, horseradish and charred cucumber would be preferable? These are just the starters, and the prices of these complex dishes are £4.10, £4.52, and £4.52 again, respectively. If you're hoping the main courses would break into double digits, I'm sorry to disappoint you. Pan-fried salmon with courgette provençale, buttered cocotte potatoes, black olive crumb and chive cream sauce costs only £7.33 for example. Chargrilled ribeye steak with hand cut chips, tomato, mushroom, and Béarnaise sauce; mini sirloin of beef with mini steak and kidney pudding, roasted baby carrots, savoy cabbage, and potato terrine; slow cooked pork belly with pancetta and root vegetable spelt, crisp kale, and salt baked swede; are the only items on the menu costing more—£9.19, £9.19, and £8.45, respectively. Remember, those who eat here can afford it without subsidy. Politicians are well-off, but they would rather point to immigrants crossing the channel in dinghies, and people needing government assistance, labeling them as freeloaders. These are not your friends, these ghouls are after votes, and ultimately, power, money, and the high life. They don't care if they have to step on your face to get there. So if they're not your friends, maybe it would behoove you not to trust their word. So when Boris Johnson or Michael Gove, Rishi Sunak, or Priti Patel, visits your television to tell you not to worry your pretty little head about inflation or parties, but to get very angry about the "woke left" forcing you to see your football team kneel before a game... maybe exercise some skepticism and due diligence. (PS: I'm not a nobleman, so if I misspelled any sophisticated food items, take it up with the House of Commons. It's their menu verbatim.)