We live in a world of rapacious corporate goons and befuddled institutional apologists...

   As Sharpers, Parasites, Pimps, Players,
   Pick-Pockets, Coiners, Quacks, Sooth-Sayers,
   And all those, that, in Enmity
   With down-right Working, cunningly
   Convert to their own Use the Labour
   Of their good-natur'd heedless Neighbour:
   These were called Knaves; but, bar the Name,
   The grave Institutions were the Same.
   All Trades and Places knew some Cheat,
   No Calling was without Deceit.

[with apologies to Bernard Mandeville 1705]

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