“We simply can’t afford it,” announced a portly gentleman, as he entered the boardroom. The well-dressed man took his seat at the head of a long table. He looked sternly at the group of men that had gathered around the table. “The tobacco manufactures union have outbid us.”
“Perhaps we could talk to some of the other unions,” suggested one of the younger members. “Maybe…”
“It simply can’t be done,” asserted the senior leader. “We’re a group of co-operative farmers and small-scale producers. We’re just not big enough to compete with the tobacco industry.”
“So they’re going to promote cigarette smoking instead?” asked another from the group.
“The Big Five movie production companies have all agreed,” confirmed the head. “They plan to popularise smoking by strategically placing cigarettes in their films.”
“But that was our idea!” yelled the younger man.
“Welcome to the world of big business son. The spinach growers association never stood a chance.”
“So what do we do now?” asked one of the board.
The stout man shrugged his shoulders; “any suggestions?” he asked. The room went quiet.
After an uncomfortable moment of silence the young member spoke again: “I could ask a friend to write spinach into a cartoon character he’s been working on.”
“You kids and your comic books,” huffed the director. “I can’t see it doing us any good, but I guess, seeing we have no other options, it’ll have to do. Send your man a silver dollar for his trouble. Meeting adjourned.”
“Perhaps we could talk to some of the other unions,” suggested one of the younger members. “Maybe…”
“It simply can’t be done,” asserted the senior leader. “We’re a group of co-operative farmers and small-scale producers. We’re just not big enough to compete with the tobacco industry.”
“So they’re going to promote cigarette smoking instead?” asked another from the group.
“The Big Five movie production companies have all agreed,” confirmed the head. “They plan to popularise smoking by strategically placing cigarettes in their films.”
“But that was our idea!” yelled the younger man.
“Welcome to the world of big business son. The spinach growers association never stood a chance.”
“So what do we do now?” asked one of the board.
The stout man shrugged his shoulders; “any suggestions?” he asked. The room went quiet.
After an uncomfortable moment of silence the young member spoke again: “I could ask a friend to write spinach into a cartoon character he’s been working on.”
“You kids and your comic books,” huffed the director. “I can’t see it doing us any good, but I guess, seeing we have no other options, it’ll have to do. Send your man a silver dollar for his trouble. Meeting adjourned.”