The land that sank under a giant wave of titles

Once upon a time, there was a land of great beauty, harmony, and economic potential. In this land, titles were rare, and most citizens had to work and compete on merit. However, one day, someone discovered that obtaining a title was a path to influence, prestige, and economic prosperity. This revelation sparked a craving for titles among the people. As demand for titles grew, the title givers realized that bestowing titles could also bring them influence and financial gain. Consequently, they began to distribute more titles, and others followed suit, increasing the number of titles bestowed.

Years passed, and the growing demand and ready supply of titles led to many people in the land acquiring titles. Unfortunately, the prosperity of the numerous title recipients and title bestowers did not translate into the prosperity of the country or its people. Instead, it created a caste system based on titles. Those without titles were at the bottom, stratified according to their economic standing, while the title bestowers sat at the top of the pyramid. Layered in between were the title holders, ordered according to their titles. All title holders were beholden to their title bestowers, and those at the bottom were subservient to all above them. Thus, a mostly classless society transformed into a class-based society, with economic gains increasingly going to the titled elites, leaving those at the bottom to languish economically.

The political elites, also titled, saw no political mileage in a population that was living together harmoniously. They introduced strife by focusing on religious and racial differences, successfully polarizing the population. Ethnic champions emerged, gaining political and economic benefits for themselves rather than their communities. This strategy further enriched the elites at the expense of those at the bottom. Opportunists in society saw that lack of merit could be overcome by exploiting religious and racial issues. Ethnic and racial politics became a route to political and financial success, sidelining merit. The politicians and their titled cronies prospered, but the country suffered, and the economic future of its citizens eroded, even as many believed they were being empowered by their leaders. Those who climbed the pyramid joined the titled elites, conveniently forgetting those at the bottom.

Some title holders, impatient with their rate of prosperity, used their influence to gain wealth through illicit means. The lavish lifestyles and flagrant display of wealth by the rich created a burning desire among many to similarly enjoy easy access to wealth. Corruption became rampant, undermining the economy. Rent-seeking became an acceptable means to accumulate wealth, making everything more expensive. Those at the bottom found daily living difficult as the cost of living outstripped their meagre earnings.

With privilege came excesses. The elites, driven by greed, degraded the environment, cutting down forests, mowing hills, polluting water sources, and submerging urban green spaces under buildings. Congestion and pollution became an unpleasant reality for those at the bottom, adding to their woes.

Few spoke about the growing inequality or other societal ills. Many with the intellect to do so feared tarnishing their egos, financial standing, and titles, preferring to maintain the status quo. Politicians who once championed democratic values and good governance became silent once they tasted power and privileges. Public discourse on important societal issues was monopolized by those with low intellect and self-serving individuals. Truth was submerged under falsehoods, and many at the bottom lived in a distorted reality.

To ensure the status quo remained unchallenged, the elites damaged the public-funded education system beyond repair and supplemented it with religious indoctrination from an early age. Institutions deepened this mind control, making race and religion emotional issues beyond rationalization. Many at the bottom learned few skills to better their condition and were too indoctrinated to see the reasons behind their plight. Politicians distracted the population with self-created issues involving race, religion, and imagined threats to privilege. Mired in mediocrity, the country failed to respond proactively to economic and societal challenges. Positive outcomes from external developments were credited to the elites, while negative developments were blamed on external sources. Structurally, the economy failed to reform, remaining mired in rent-seeking as the titled elites flourished in an "I rub your back, and you rub my back" culture.

State institutions served the titled elites, exempting them from laws while the rest of the population felt their full brunt. Public finances enriched the elites but impoverished the country, clouding its future with huge public debt from decades of fiscal deficits. The weak state institutions and eroded governance made it easy for the monied elites to evade taxes. Civil servants and state security services were subservient to the political elites, often used to achieve their desires rather than the country's good. Years of mediocrity and race-based politics left few politicians of integrity. The population watched helplessly as their leaders, elected on promises of strengthened governance and fairness, reverted to self-serving race and religion-based politics. Many lost hope that the country could ever be reformed for the better.

Despite the lack of meaningful structural reforms, the economy changed in important ways. Talented locals abandoned the land for better opportunities abroad, while outsiders from worse economies saw opportunities and prospered in the local environment. They displaced the local population in low-value economic activities and gradually progressed up the value chains. The elites profited from this trend, while many at the bottom remained focused on racial and religious issues, ignorant of their stolen economic future.

Few considered how the country would deal with looming challenges, such as an aging population and climate change. Those who raised their voices were drowned by the clamour of egos and privilege engrossed in accumulating more titles, influence, and wealth. Those at the bottom remained oblivious to these threats, even as hot winds blew across their faces and their houses frequently flooded.

There was once a land of great beauty, harmony, and economic potential. But no more. It sank under the weight of titles.