The Parable of Blue Elk and Fool's Feet: Wealth is Power and Responsibility

“With great power comes great responsibility.” ~Stan Lee

Understanding Wealth in Society

As long as poverty exists, the idea of “being rich” is deceptive. Why is this? Because wealth loses its authenticity when it stems from the neglect or exploitation of others. Extreme wealth, found in a society filled with hunger and homelessness, should be viewed as a sign of imbalance rather than a personal triumph.

Psychological studies on happiness, such as the Easterlin Paradox, indicate that after reaching a certain level of wealth, additional riches do not enhance well-being if inequality prevails. This may be because humans are inherently wired for empathy and fairness. The existence of poverty constantly gnaws at the conscience and affects the social fabric.

One could argue that “being rich” is not inherently illusory. Wealth can provide security, opportunity, and the ability to help others if wielded wisely. However, egocentrism and corruption arise when the wealthy ignore the plight of the impoverished or view it as unrelated to their own status.

A Call for Solutions

Let’s focus on solutions. Wealth is power. Those who possess considerable wealth shoulder significant responsibility regarding how they exercise that power. The following parable provides crucial insights.

The Parable:

“Power is not a gift; it’s a test.” ~Frank Herbert

The annual Great Hunt was a tremendous success. Blue Elk's exceptional hunting skills led him to kill a record ten buffalo by himself. Upon reuniting with the other hunters, he discovered Red Bear had five kills and Black Dog managed only one. The remaining seven hunters offered a variety of excuses for their lack of success. However, Fool’s Feet was simply lazy.

Blue Elk faced a moral dilemma. The survival of the entire tribe now rested on his decisions. Keeping all the buffalo to himself would surely result in starvation for his people. Yet, the others hadn’t earned their kills like he had. Why should he share? He knew it was the right thing to do, but his pride kept gnawing at him, especially regarding Fool’s Feet. Even though Fool's Feet was a lazy moocher, his family shouldn’t have to suffer.

Blue Elk recognized his newfound power and the necessity of wielding it responsibly. He resolved to do the right thing despite his feelings. He didn’t want to be perceived as greedy, unlike Red Bear, who had hoarded kills during the last hunt, causing the tribe to suffer.

Consequently, Blue Elk devised a fair plan: he would keep the choicest cuts from each kill as a reward for his efforts, while distributing the majority among the tribe. He decided Fool’s Feet’s family would receive lesser cuts due to his laziness, aiming to encourage better behavior in the future.

The Successful Outcome

His plan worked! Blue Elk's conscience was clear, and the tribe prospered. Initially, Fool’s Feet’s family felt ashamed, but it sparked them to work harder. During the next hunt, Blue Elk still led with seven kills, but Fool’s Feet improved significantly, contributing five kills. They eventually became good friends.

Blue Elk often reflects on this experience with satisfaction, realizing he made the right choice. This parable highlights that power can be fickle.

Core Themes in the Parable

“To whom much is given, much is required.” ~Luke 12:48

Wealth as Power

Blue Elk’s ten buffalo represent more than just material wealth; they signify the power to influence his tribe’s survival. His success placed him in a position where his choices had broader implications, mirroring how wealth concentrates decision-making authority in real-world dynamics.

Moral Responsibility

Blue Elk’s struggle—whether to hoard resources or share them—illustrates the burden of power. He understood that selfishness, like Red Bear’s actions, could afflict the tribe. However, pride and fairness complicate matters, especially when it comes to rewarding those who do not contribute (like Fool’s Feet). This inner conflict shows the responsibilities wealth bestows upon its possessor. It’s less about personal gain and more about how one influences others.

Equity vs. Merit

The tension between distributing wealth equally and rewarding effort is significant. Blue Elk’s strategy—keeping the best cuts for himself while sharing the rest—offers a balanced approach between self-interest and communal necessity. It acknowledges that merit matters, but survival takes precedence.

Incentive and Transformation

By allocating lesser cuts to Fool’s Feet’s family, Blue Elk strategically used his power to motivate rather than punish. This approach resulted in Fool’s Feet's transformation from a moocher to a contributor, showcasing how responsible power can encourage others.

Analysis of Blue Elk’s Solution

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” ~Winston Churchill

Blue Elk’s leadership plan directly confronts the notion that "those with considerable wealth have a great responsibility regarding their power." Here’s why it proves effective:

By retaining the choicest cuts, Blue Elk honors his own effort without descending into Red Bear’s selfishness. It acknowledges the desire for recognition among the wealthy while limiting excess.

Sharing the majority ensures no one faces starvation. Blue Elk understood that power should serve the community's needs, not merely his own. His wealth’s true meaning emerged through its support of the tribe.

By giving Fool’s Feet lesser cuts, Blue Elk injected accountability into the equation. This wasn’t mere charity; it was a calculated move to discourage laziness while ensuring basic needs were met. Such a strategy avoids resentment on Blue Elk’s part and dependency on Fool’s Feet’s part, leading to shared conscience unlike Red Bear.

The success of this plan wasn’t just survival; it sparked transformation. Fool’s Feet’s development showcases how wisely wielded power can reshape behavior and strengthen social bonds. Blue Elk’s laughter at the end indicates he found deeper fulfillment in this outcome than in selfish hoarding.

The Connection Between Wealth and Responsibility

“All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.” ~Baruch Spinoza

This parable illustrates that the power of wealth lies in its application, not mere accumulation. Blue Elk could have chosen to hoard like Red Bear, ultimately countering “being rich” in a morally narrow sense, which would lead to his wealth being undermined by the tribe’s suffering. Instead, he opted to balance personal reward with collective welfare, proving that true wealth lies in responsibility and prestige.

This idea resonates with contemporary debates on wealth distribution. Blue Elk’s approach avoids extremes of pure egalitarianism (equal shares for all) and pure meritocracy (rewarding only effort); it’s a hybrid that prioritizes survival while promoting effort. In modern terms, it can be compared to a wealthy individual who pays themselves fairly for their labor while investing the rest into community-driven initiatives like infrastructure and food security instead of amassing private riches.

Translating Blue Elk's Wisdom to the Real World

In a world with stark wealth disparities, here’s how Blue Elk’s insights could be applied:

*Progressive Sharing
: Wealth can be retained as a reward, but a significant portion should also address societal needs, such as taxes and philanthropy, ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met.

*Incentivized Contribution
: Aid can be structured to encourage active participation, exemplifying how individuals often rise to challenges when given a push rather than complete passes.

*Leadership by Example
: The rejection of greed shapes cultural expectations. Wealthy individuals and corporations can exemplify responsible use of power through profit-sharing and fair compensation.

*Community Focus
: Wealth should be evaluated based on its societal impact. A billionaire funding essential resources like clean water might derive greater satisfaction and legacy from such endeavors than accumulating more luxury.

*Addressing Large-Scale Poverty
: Envision a billionaire launching a sustainable community project for the homeless, dubbed Project Greenlight or Tiny Home City.

This initiative could involve constructing thousands of tiny homes made from sustainable materials, like bamboo and hempcrete, outfitted with renewable energy solutions and community gardens. Each household would contribute to the broader community by cultivating crops and raising livestock.

Creating a flourishing community would not only improve morale but also instill a sense of purpose and connection among its residents. A foundational framework based on principles such as the Golden Rule and healthy wealth distribution, as shown in the parable, would be vital.

While this vision may be ambitious, it is certainly worth striving toward.

In conclusion, the parable of Blue Elk is a compelling narrative illustrating how power can be wielded responsibly. Blue Elk’s journey demonstrates that fulfilling one’s responsibilities holds potential for both personal and communal growth. Embracing the blend of self-interest and altruism can lead to a fruitful existence for all, revealing that power can be a force for good when guided by ethical principles.

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About the Author: Gary Z McGee, a former Navy Intelligence Specialist turned philosopher, is the author of Birthday Suit of God and The Looking Glass Man. His works are inspired by the great philosophers of the ages and his wide-awake view of the modern world.

This article (The Parable of Blue Elk and Fool's Feet) was originally created and published by Self-inflicted Philosophy and is printed here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Gary Z McGee and self-inflictedphilosophy.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this statement of copyright.