If you don't mind, I'd like to start today with a dramatic reading.

But first, let me set the scene.

The lights come up and the stage is dressed as a dark cave.

A young woman lies sleeping on a rocky ledge. Downstage, a

mustachioed and goateed man paces back and forth. He looks at the exhausted woman and can't help

but muse out loud about the societal injustice that brought them to this sorry point. His soliloquy begins,

quote, poor sufferer, your couch is less rugged than the hearts of persecutors. It is thus they would

bruise and trample upon all who have the sin of poverty upon their souls. But I shall yet live to set my foot

on their many proud necks. The day will come, haughty masters, deceive not yourselves. Ye look upon the

poor as slaves and set up rulers over them. Any law you make is but to keep them more in subjection.

They are ground down to better their morals. Their harmless sports are cut, lest they should

become vicious. Their hours of relaxation limited, for fear they might grow idle. Kind, considerate rulers, ye are.

But the time will assuredly dawn when the people will shake off all these galling fetters,

when every man shall sit under his own roof and none have power to make him fear.

Hear me, ye lords of the earth, you who are for

your possessions too much yearly, you evil giants of England, ye who keep a city guard to feed

the beggars on stones, to imprison like dogs the poor and helpless.

Hear my warning and beware.

Ye are sharpening the fangs of the people, and when ye least dream of it, will find

their teeth buried fast and deeply in your throats.

Ye are going full gallop to the devil."

End quote.

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