One

One night I was lying awake, unable to sleep and my mind was spinning it’s wheels inventing weird stories — instead of dwelling on fears and worries like it usually does. I imagined a fable about alternative math and the folly/illogic of capitalism and growth oriented economy. One plus one is one? Two minus two is two? I wish I was better at math so I could actually write this story!

Once upon a time there was a square with four sides. Square had always had four sides and enjoyed it.

Once upon a time there was a circle. Circle had no sides or infinite sides, depending on your perspective. Circle had always been that way and enjoyed it.

Once upon a time there was a bucket. The bucket was full of water. As the bucket sat out in the sun day after day, the water got lower and lower until there was no more water left and the bucket was dry.

Once upon a time there was a planet full of life in every inconceivable form possible, thriving and coexisting with the material existence of the universe. Until one species began to take all the resources and destroy all the places where life could exist. Not even the whole population of one species — really a small minority. They were silly and thought they could cheat with no consequences, and let someone else deal with it. So they took all the resources and destroyed all other life and didn’t care what they were doing until it was too late.

Once upon a time there was a teacher who everyone listened to because the teacher had a loud, confident voice that was hard to ignore. The teacher taught everyone that 1 + 1 = 1 and everyone was convinced. Then that teacher taught everyone that when it comes to 1 / 8 billion, the answer is > 1. So everyone went about their lives believing they could just move to Mars when the going got tough.