How the 1% Live

As time progressed the 1% in America accumulated wealth at an even faster pace. Soon it was estimated that the 1% held roughly 95% of the nation's money. This left the vast majority of Americans struggling with day to day expenses. Worse yet, since the 1% typically paid all of the taxes in any given city they lived in, they wielded an incredible amount of power. Without their income taxes these cities would have no schools, no cops, no firefighters, etc.

John Higgins was an 18 year old boy who was a part of the elite 1%. Well, he himself wasn't wealthy, but his father was. His father either owned or was on the board of so many companies that John couldn't keep track. He had a mother who was a homemaker and a rebellious older sister.

John Higgins was brash and unlikable. He had been raised to believe that anyone who wasn't equally wealthy was not worth his time. This world view caused John to live life without any friends. No one he ever met had more than a few dollars in the bank. He would scoff at them, perhaps even call them a "lazy handout taking pariah" like his father always did, then ignore them.

John was also very unattractive. Overweight, no muscle tone, pale, and short. He never made any effort to fix his appearance because he never met anyone who he thought was worthy of dating him. He just spent his days playing video games, traveling between family mansions, and taking part in those special activities that only the 1% could afford.

One Saturday night about two months before graduation, John's father Thomas burst through his bedroom door. This was unusual; Thomas was typically so busy that he only saw his son a few times a year. His mother was often at the gym or by the pool. John had been mostly raised by his nanny.

"John my boy, what's this I hear about you not attending prom" Thomas asked. John shrugged his shoulders, "all the girls at my school are poor pieces of shit dad. I don't wanna go with any of em." Thomas shot back, "John, son, you have to go to prom. Every Higgins man has attended his school's prom. You won't be the first to miss it."

"But Dad" John replied, "These women are trash. I can't be seen with them!" Thomas then took a seat beside his son on his bed. "John, there's a great many lessons you have to learn in life. I'll give you one right now. John, why do you think we're so rich?" John got a big smile on his face. "Because we work hard, right dad?" Thomas patted his son on the head. "That's right my boy! And why are there so many poor people?" John again knew the answer right away, "because they're lazy bums who want a handout!"

Thomas laughed. "You have been listening to me all these years! John, you're correct, but I want you to think about this next question. John, why don't we just get rid of all the poor people? Who don't we put them all on an island so we can have this place to ourselves?" John was puzzled, he didn't know the answer. "John, it's because we need to use them to make ourselves happy. Money can't buy everything. Sometimes to make yourself happy you need someone else."

John sort of understood. He always had everything he wanted though and it was precisely because of money. Before he could ask a clarifying question, Thomas asked another question that was surprising.

"John, father to son, have you ever had sex?" Thomas shamefully shook his head. "John, why not? You're a beautiful boy! Hell, you're a Higgins!" Thomas explained that it was because all the women he knew were poor trash. "John son, you need to have sex. Everyone does. Yet there are so few people as great as our family. So, we use those beneath us to fulfill our needs. Son, I want you to go to prom tonight and I want you to have sex."

John nodded, he wouldn't dare disobey his father. "Now John" Thomas began, "you call up the prettiest girl at your school and tell her you want to take her to prom."

Thomas left the room. John grabbed his phone; he knew right away who to call. Cindy Johnson.