Minima Economica

We don't make people work for air.
That is, we don't charge for breathing.
But we do pay a utilities bill.
Water, gas, electricity.
And you have to pay for the food you eat.
If we charged for breathing,
and either let those who had no money suffocate
or humiliated them for "air stamps",
we would be evil. And yet we charge for
food, water, heat, shelter.

We say these are "scarce" resources.
One day we'll no doubt say the same of air.
Some of the nicest people I know
are working very hard to make the air
scarce. If they worked as hard
to secure an unconditional basic income for all,
this earth would be a paradise.
There'd be plenty of air too.