The Fox and the Government Henhouse: A Modern Parable of Power

In an era where technology and governance are becoming increasingly intertwined, an ancient Turkish proverb echoes with alarming clarity: "The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe was clever and convinced the trees that because his handle was made of wood he was one of them." This wisdom eerily mirrors our current political landscape, where billionaire industrialists, particularly those deeply entrenched in government contracts, are gaining the power to reshape the very institutions that regulate their interests. The potential danger of this situation cannot be overstated.

Consider the paradox of Elon Musk's (DOGE) involvement in government efficiency task forces. Here stands a man whose companies have secured billions (~$15.4 Billion) in government contracts, now positioned to recommend how these same government agencies should operate. The irony is apparent – it's akin to having a fox not merely guard the henhouse but redesign its security system without the hen's input. While Musk's technical and innovative expertise is undeniable, does this fit the role of leading the governmental efficiency charge? Does his dual role as beneficiary and reformer of government systems raise profound questions about conflicts of interest?

Now, don't get me wrong, as I'm all for creating efficiencies, rooting out redundancies, and innovating; however, the details of the who and the how have struck me and have given me pause about this situation—and I mean a lot of pause.

The new administration's expedition of campaign promises (some made, and some newly created) mirrors the proverb's warning about deceptive familiarity. Just as the axe convinced the trees of kinship through its wooden handle, today's power brokers often present themselves as champions of public interest while potentially advancing private agendas. When executive orders shift like desert sands and policy interpretations evolve beyond recognition, we must ask ourselves: Are we the trees, accepting the axe's argument at face value?

This situation transcends partisan politics – it speaks to a fundamental question of governance: Can those who have mastered the art of partnering and profiting from a system be trusted to reform it impartially? James Madison's timeless observation in Federalist Paper No. 51 rings true here: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Yet today, we seem to be dismantling these very controls by placing them in the hands of those who have the most to gain from their weakening. History suggests that meaningful reform rarely comes from those who benefit most from the status quo, regardless of their claims of kinship with common interests.

As we witness this modern replay of an ancient warning, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where experience meets responsibility. "The axe forgets, but the tree remembers"—this African proverb and stark truth resonate deeply when paired with Madison's prescient warning about governance and human nature. Together, they illuminate our present predicament: while the powerful may forget or dismiss the impact of their actions, those affected by their decisions carry the scars of those choices through generations.

History has taught us that true reform requires genuine independence and uncompromised oversight. Yet today, as we watch billionaire beneficiaries of the government taking the lead positioned to reshape the very systems that enriched them, we must ask ourselves: Do we remember the lessons our democratic institutions were built upon? When future generations examine this moment, will they find that we understood Madison's wisdom about power and human nature? Or will they discover a democratic forest laid bare because we trusted too deeply in axes with wooden handles, forgetting that familiarity does not ensure loyalty to the public good?

The choice—and the consequence—rests with us. Let us be more than trees that simply remember; let us be the generation that recognized the clever disguise of private interests wrapped in public promises and stood firm. In the end, it is not enough to remember the axe's cut—we must prevent it, protecting our democratic forest not just for ourselves but also for all those who will shelter in its shade in the years to come.

Cleophus (Cleo) P. Franklin Jr. is a former agriculture global business executive. He is the Founder and CEO of Franklin Strategic Solutions and the Franklin Leadership Foundation. Franklin is also the Chief Marketing Officer of the education technology company Laddering Your Success. He is also a Senior Corporate Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston - Downtown and a published author of seven books. You can purchase Franklin's books at coffeewithcleo.com or any retail bookstore.