[cabo35]

Life was good in the Kingdom. The benevolent dictator King provided all that most of his subjects needed or desired. They were happy. Outside the Kingdom walls were small settlements that chose not to reside in the Kingdom thereby avoiding the King's modest taxation and rules. There was a moat around the original dominion of the king. It helped ensure the security of the Kingdom. The King build a road and a great bridge for his people so that they might enjoy the expanding, vast, rich, bountiful lands to the West.

All was well for a long time. The King allowed the surrounding neighbors to partake of the many benefits inside his dominion. Then he built a path so that his subjects could access and enjoy amenities outside his province. Access to the path was controlled by a gate and a key issued to each of his Kingdom tax paying subjects. Happiness prevailed until others outside the empire wanted to use the path as well. The gate was frequently broken and under repair allowing unfettered access to all. In capitulation, the King removed the gate. (This is historically correct according to original Kingdom settlers).

Recently when dragons in the form of liability, security and perceived abuses of the pathway came to bare......the King, unceremoniously, without warning, in the middle of the night decided to slay the dragons and build a wall to restrict all access to HIS path. Protests in and out of the Kingdom echoed through the streets and halls of governance. The dragons were slain but the collateral damage was unacceptable.

Acting quickly, the Kings minions announced they would build a new gate with keys for all Kingdom taxpaying villagers. This substantially quelled the voices of many inside the gates. Outside the gates, including an area known as Crests of Stone, pockets of acrimony continue. A noble orator and frequent critic of the King, originally from a great Commonwealth, now residing in the Crests of Stone, continues to rally for free and unfettered (uncompensated) access to the King's path. His protests continue to stir the caldron of discontent for those who dislike or resent the Kingdom's benevolent dictator.

The loyal opposition to the King would remind his detractors that while occasionally he may incur the ire of some of his subjects for perceived tyrannical actions, please remember.....he is OUR tyrant.

How will this fairy tale end? Let's hope that after the dragons are slain, the gate is opened and diplomacy is exercised, everyone will live happily in peace and harmony ever after.