-by Rankin MacDonald
St. Peter was sitting in his old Lazy Boy greeting all those who had recently arrived.
The Pearly Gates were slightly ajar just in case a really good person arrived at the final destination.
St. Peter spotted one of Earth’s best-known persons, examined his file, and then in his soft tones welcomed the richest man in the world to the Gates of Heaven…or Hell.
“We’re glad you’re here, Elon, because this place has seen better days, and with your money we can get all the upgrades done in this time-epoch,” said the gatekeeper.
Elon put on his sour face and told St. Peter that it was his fortune, he worked hard for it, and unless there was something for him in it, the cash would stay in the vault.
“You didn’t get the joke, Elon,” St. Peer said.
“We don’t need your wealth up here. The Old Man can fix anything. He’s quite a jack-of-all-trades,” St. Peter added.
The granny cam went blank, too personal to let the world know, so we don’t know where Elon Musk and the rest of Earth’s billionaires ended up.
Don’t worry about Elon; look to the path you are on.
Heard a couple of Americans on the tube last week who were arguing about the future of the human race and the beautiful planet that sustains them.
The guy with lots of dollars said, “Why the hell should I spend my hard-earned money to pay for my neighbours’ health care?”
“Because you’re a Christian,” the other less economically-fixed human said.
“I’m a capitalist,” he replied.
And there you have it.
Capitalism and greed are destroying this planet at a far greater pace than we foretold and one of the world’s most eminent scientists, with the help of AI, predicted that if we don’t get our environmental act together real soon, humans and most of the world will be no more. He picks the year 2048 for the start of the collapse.
Most imminent scientists agree and point to the air, water, and soil as they run closer to the dying days.
Billions will die, children will be no more, the planet will wilt and we, humans, will do as we always have – ruin an invention that could save the planet.
We have the money and ability to feed all but we are more apt to destroy rather than cure the dying planet.
The leaders must be at least asking why we are not fixing up old Mother Nature so we can continue to enjoy the Garden of Eden.
We cry for our children and grandchildren. They have a heck of a century ahead.
Will we be in the company of the Muskites or can we pull it out?
We’d better decide real soon!