I — of those who speak
EVERYONE
IS HEARD.
Every voice is admitted into the record. Every grievance is granted its hearing. The doctrine is universal; the door is always open; the microphone is on.
— clause as written, page 1, ratified 12·iii·1948.
i′ — and of those who are not
SOME ARE
LISTENED TO.
Volume is not the same as hearing. Hearing is not the same as weight. Weight is allotted, not granted, and the meter is calibrated before the speech begins.
— clause as practiced, footnote 11, re-amended quietly, 1971.
II — of those who pay
A TAX CODE,
INTACT.
Gross income means all income from whatever source derived, including but not limited to compensation for services, gains derived from dealings in property, interest, rents, royalties, dividends, alimony, annuities, income from life insurance, pensions, income from discharge of indebtedness, distributive shares of partnership gross income, income in respect of a decedent, and income from an interest in an estate or trust.
Every person liable for any tax shall make a return, keep records, render statements, and comply with rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.
— statute, full text. obligation: total.
ii′ — and of those who are advised
A TAX CODE,
EDITED.
Gross income means all income from whatever source derived, including but not limited to compensation for services, gains derived from dealings in property, interest, rents, royalties, dividends, alimony, annuities, income from life insurance, pensions, income from discharge of indebtedness, distributive shares of partnership gross income, income in respect of a decedent, and income from an interest in an estate or trust.
Every person liable for any tax shall make a return, keep records, render statements, and comply with rules and regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.
— same statute, with eleven words struck. obligation: negotiable.
III — of those who wait
SIX WEEKS.
- DAY 0Indictment filed.
- DAY 3Counsel retained, motion to dismiss drafted.
- DAY 9Bail set, posted, defendant released.
- DAY 17Pre-trial conference; expert witness identified.
- DAY 28Plea negotiations open.
- DAY 35Charges reduced; settlement reached.
- DAY 42Case closed. Record sealed on motion.
— defendant A. disposition: closed, sealed.
iii′ — and of those who wait longer
SIX YEARS,
AND COUNTING.
- DAY 0Indictment filed.
- DAY 47Counsel assigned by court; case file misrouted.
- DAY 96Bail denied; remand ordered.
- DAY 211First continuance granted, prosecutor unavailable.
- DAY 488Second continuance granted, court calendar full.
- DAY 921Counsel reassigned; motion to dismiss not filed.
- DAY 1,604Pre-trial conference rescheduled (4th).
- DAY 2,038Witness deceased; deposition unavailable.
- DAY 2,191Status review — no action taken.
- DAY 2,……
— defendant B. disposition: open. perpetually.
IV — of those who speak twice
FIRST
POSITION.
“The market self-corrects. Government intervention only distorts incentives that, given enough time, would otherwise resolve themselves to the public good. Discipline is the cure for excess.”
iv′ — and of those who speak again
SECOND
POSITION.
“The market has failed. Decisive intervention is overdue. Discipline is what the rest of us have already endured. Relief, now, is not an indulgence; it is a debt come due.”
V — of those who are counted
— the principle as printed. cap-height: 180. offset: 0.
v′ — and of those nominally counted
— the principle as enforced. cap-height: 166. offset: +6.
VI — of those who forget
YOU HAVE
BEEN HERE.
You have read the prior five sections. They were on this page. They are still on this page. The text has not moved. Look again, however, and notice what is no longer printed there. The record has been — let us say — amended.
— the file room, after the cleaners. words removed: tracked.
vi′ — and of those who do not
-
IQ-117EVERYONE / IS HEARD. Some are listened to.
-
IIK-204A tax code, intact. A tax code, edited.
-
IIIJ-051Six weeks. Six years, and counting.
-
IVP-309First position. Second position.
-
VV-882Equal. Nominally equal.
— the same record, on second reading. cf. sections i–v.
VII — of the standard itself
There has never been one standard.
There have only been those who set them.
closing colophon. the seam dissolves.