The Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion are us.

You learn something everyday. I did not know Baum wrote “Oz” as a spoof to expose the forces conspiring to gain control of the economy. I guess what applied then even more so applies today. This article by Dave Daubenmire should be food for thought.

Dave Daubenmire — Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Back to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum wrote this spoof on the late 1890’s attempt to reform America’s monetary policy. Even back then the “bankers” were attempting to take the American dollar off of the gold standard. Baum wrote “Oz” to expose the forces conspiring to gain control of the economy.

“Oz is short for ounce, the measure for gold and silver.

Dorothy, hailing from Kansas, represents the commoner.

The Tin Woodsman is the industrial worker, rusted solid as the factories shut down in the 1893 depression. The Scarecrow is the farmer who apparently doesn’t have the wit to understand his situation or his political interests. The Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan; (Ron Paul) who had a loud roar but little political power as he fought the political powers of his day.

The Good Witches represent the magical potential of the people of the Midwest and the South (red states).

After vanquishing the Wicked Witch of the East (the Eastern bankers) Dorothy frees The Munchkins (the little people). With the witch’s silver slippers (the silver standard), (they change to ruby red in the movie) Dorothy sets out on the Yellow Brick Road (the gold standard) to the Emerald City (Washington), where they meet the Wizard (the President), who appears powerful, but is ultimately revealed as an illusion; the real Wizard being just a little man who pulls levers behind a curtain” (printing presses).

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain…” We must once again come to the realization that WE hold all of the power. The Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion are us.

The Scarecrow was looking for a brain, all of the time convinced he needed “experts” to think for him. The Tin Man was looking for a heart, feeling he needed the “great and powerful Oz” to restore his broken spirit through government handouts. And the Cowardly Lion needed only the courage to fight.

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