The Great Distraction: An Economic Tale
In the bustling city of Prosper Heights, three men lived vastly different financial lives.

Ethan, a high-powered consultant, charged $700 an hour for his expertise. His wealth afforded him luxury—penthouse views, fine dining, and investments that made money while he slept. Despite his riches, he knew one thing: to keep making more, he needed the system to stay just as it was.

Daniel, a middle-class factory worker, earned $24 an hour. He worked long shifts, paid his bills, and dreamed of a better future. But lately, things felt harder. Prices were rising, yet his wages barely budged. He blamed someone—he just wasn’t sure who.

Then there was Miguel, an immigrant making $7.90 an hour washing dishes. He took whatever work he could find, often juggling two or three jobs just to survive. To him, every hour was a fight to put food on the table.

Ethan, the consultant, saw a problem—one that threatened his comfortable life. Workers like Daniel were starting to ask questions: Why aren’t wages keeping up? Why is rent so high? Why do the rich get richer while we struggle?

If Daniel ever realized that Ethan and his wealthy peers were hoarding most of the wealth, things could get dangerous. Unions, protests, political changes—those were bad for business. Ethan needed Daniel distracted.

So Ethan whispered in his ear:

"You know why your wages aren’t going up? It’s guys like Miguel. He’s taking jobs for less. He’s the reason your rent is high. He’s the one making it hard for you."

Daniel, tired and frustrated, found it easy to believe. It was simpler to blame Miguel, who looked different, spoke with an accent, and seemed like an easy scapegoat. Meanwhile, Ethan kept raising his consulting fees, investing in stocks, and lobbying for policies that kept wages low.

And just like that, the cycle continued—because as long as Daniel and Miguel were fighting each other, they wouldn’t turn their eyes upward, where the real money was being made.