One upon a time a vibrant tree grew. It grew for more then 200 years. The trunk was as wide as a continent, and the branches reached right into space.
One branch even reached the moon.
Like any tree it had to contend with some years of drought, and some with floods, but most years there was enough balance of rain and sunshine. The people tended the tree, making sure the roots weren't choked by grasses or weeds, and feeding the tree lots of good organic fertilizer. For most of it's long life, it produced lush foliage and luscious fruit that fed many.
Then something started to happen. The people started to wander away. One here, another there, the family next door, then entire towns left the tree alone.. Finally only a few were left to tend the tree. These few decided they didn't want the tree to produce many fruits. The few determined a few big ones would be more efficient. So when the tree bloomed, they watched the bees pollinate the blossoms. Then they climbed through the tree tearing off blossoms and stripping whole branches of leaves, thinking that the tree would put more energy into the fruit that was left.
Unfortunately, the few stripped too many leaves. Climbing through the branches damaged all the blossoms that were left, save one. Even as the one and only fruit grew, more and more of the tree died. The few were so enamored with the size of one fruit, they hardly noticed the death of the rest of the tree. The one fruit grew so large and bloated, it bent the branch it grew on, almost to the ground.
Then the people began to notice the tree that had nourished them for so long was nearly dead. They saw the bloated fruit.
The people began to call "Pick the fruit! pick the fruit!"
The few said "no, it's not finished growing.."
The people said, "it's sucking out what life is left in the tree!"
Finally, the few turned and looked. They saw what they had done:
Did I tell you the tree was a peach tree?
A"my friend Max: contributed the following for Saturday Morning Political Cartoon: