ADEDEJI HERITAGE ADEBOLA

          ESSAY ON THE WORDS BY MARCUS CICERO(43 B.C)

OYO STATE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY ELEYELE IBADAN

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE WORDS BY MARCUS CICERO

Politicians are like octopuses; they have a sucker for every class of people – the poor for their votes, the rich for their contributions, the soldier for their loyalty, the taxpayer for their money, the banker for their funds, the lawyer for their expertise, the doctor for their endorsement, and the goons for their muscle. They suck the life out of each, and yet, no one is left feeling drained, for they promise a little something to everyone, and deliver nothing to none. They thrive on the toil of the many, and flourish on the tears of the oppressed. They are the masters of the art of deception, and the slaves of their own ambition. They make up the ultimate group in the vicious societal cycle which begins with the poor.

The impoverished segment of society is often characterised by their perpetual state of labour. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, they consistently engage in various forms of employment to make ends meet. Their work ethic is admirable, as they tirelessly toil to provide for themselves and their families.

The poor are the backbone of various industries, including agriculture, construction, and healthcare. They work long hours in challenging conditions, often for minimal compensation. Their contributions are essential to the functioning of society, yet they frequently go unrecognised.

It is however saddening that not only are their efforts unrecognised, but also, they are exploited by those at the other extreme end of the line— the rich.

The wealthy often exploit the poor through various means, perpetuating a cycle of inequality. One common method is wage exploitation, where low-income workers are paid minimal wages, while their employers reap substantial profits. This is particularly prevalent in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and domestic work.

Another form of exploitation is resource extraction, where corporations and wealthy individuals extract natural resources from impoverished communities without providing fair compensation or benefits. This can lead to environmental degradation, displacement, and further economic hardship.  

Additionally, the rich may exploit the poor through predatory lending practices, charging exorbitant interest rates and fees that trap individuals in debt cycles. They may also use their influence and power to shape policies and laws that favor their interests at the expense of the poor. 

These forms of exploitation perpetuate poverty and widen the wealth gap.

There exists another crucial group— the soldier. 

Ironically, the soldier stands as a protector of both the oppressed and the oppressor. They risk their lives to maintain the status quo, defending the interests of the wealthy and powerful, while also safeguarding the poor and vulnerable. This paradoxical role perpetuates the cycle of exploitation, as the soldier’s protection enables the rich to continue their exploitative practices.

Yet, the soldier’s duty is not to question, but to serve. They are trained to follow orders, upholding the laws and policies that govern society. In doing so, they protect the poor from harm, providing a sense of security and stability. However, this protection also extends to the rich, allowing them to maintain their power and privilege.

This dual role highlights the complex relationship between power, protection, and exploitation. The soldier’s presence maintains the balance of power, ensuring that the wealthy remain wealthy, and the poor remain poor. Ultimately, it is a system that perpetuates inequality, and one that requires critical examination and reform to create a more just and equitable society.

There is another group who pays for the poor, rich, and soldier— the taxpayer.

The taxpayer unwittingly funds the entire cycle of exploitation and protection. Through their taxes, they pay for the social services and programs that support the poor, providing a meager safety net to alleviate the worst effects of poverty. Meanwhile, they also subsidize the wealthy through tax breaks, loopholes, and incentives that fuel their exploitation. 

Furthermore, taxpayers fund the military and defense systems that employ the soldiers, paying for their training, equipment, and operations. This means that the taxpayer ultimately bears the cost of protecting both the oppressed and the oppressor, perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.

In essence, the taxpayer is forced to finance the very systems that maintain inequality. Their hard-earned money is used to both alleviate the symptoms of poverty and perpetuate the root causes.

There is another group— the banker.

The banker profits from the entire cycle of exploitation and protection, robbing the poor, rich, soldier, and taxpayer alike. Through predatory lending practices, they exploit the poor, charging exorbitant interest rates and fees that trap them in debt cycles. Meanwhile, they also fleece the rich, charging hefty fees for managing their wealth and investments.

Soldiers are not immune to the banker’s reach, as they often rely on military loans and credit services that come with high interest rates and fees. And taxpayers, who fund the military and social programs, ultimately bear the cost of the banker’s profiteering.

The banker’s most insidious tactic, however, is their manipulation of the financial system, creating economic crises and recessions that affect everyone. They then profit from the chaos, buying up assets at fire-sale prices and charging interest on the very money they create. In this way, the banker robs the poor, rich, soldier, and taxpayer, perpetuating a cycle of debt and exploitation that benefits only themselves. By controlling the flow of money, they control the very fabric of society, leaving destruction and inequality in their wake.

The vicious cycle doesn’t end with the bankers, in fact, there is a more terrific group — the lawyer.

The lawyer, tasked with upholding justice, often misleads the poor, rich, soldier, taxpayer, and banker, perpetuating a cycle of deception. They craft contracts and agreements that favor the wealthy, hiding behind complex language and loopholes. The poor, unaware of their rights, are coerced into signing away their protections. The rich, meanwhile, use lawyers to exploit loopholes and evade accountability.

Soldiers, seeking justice for their sacrifices, find themselves entangled in bureaucratic webs, their claims delayed or denied. Taxpayers, funding the legal system, are misled into believing that justice is served, while bankers, hiding behind lawyers, escape accountability for their crimes.

Through clever manipulation of the law, lawyers enable the powerful to maintain their grip on society. They create a facade of justice, while perpetuating inequality. The poor remain powerless, the rich remain unaccountable, and the soldier remains forgotten. The taxpayer foots the bill, and the banker reaps the benefits. In this way, the lawyer’s deception perpetuates a cycle of injustice, where the few profit at the expense of the many. Ultimately, the lawyer’s role in this cycle undermines the very fabric of society, eroding trust in the legal system and perpetuating a culture of corruption.

The fabric of our humanity is quite wide as there exists another perpetuator — the doctor.

The doctor, sworn to heal, bills the poor, rich, soldier, taxpayer, banker, and lawyer, perpetuating a cycle of profit over people. They charge exorbitant fees, regardless of ability to pay, forcing the poor into debt and bankruptcy. The rich, meanwhile, receive top-notch care, their wealth guaranteeing access to the best treatment.

Soldiers, wounded in service, face lengthy waits and inadequate care, their sacrifices seemingly forgotten. Taxpayers fund the medical system, only to be billed again for their own care. Bankers and lawyers, who profit from the suffering of others, receive top-tier treatment, their wealth and influence guaranteeing them priority.

The doctor’s focus on profit over people perpetuates inequality, where only the wealthy receive quality care. The poor and vulnerable are left to suffer, their health and well-being ignored. The soldier’s sacrifice is forgotten, the taxpayer’s money wasted, and the banker and lawyer’s wealth grows. In this way, the doctor’s billing perpetuates a cycle of exploitation, where the value of human life is measured in dollars and cents, rather than compassion and care. The doctor’s oath to heal is sacrificed for the sake of profit.

Marcus Cicero further widened the cycle by including the goons— the scarers.

The goon’s intimidation tactics have a profound impact on society. The poor are scared into silence, afraid to speak out against injustice. The rich are scared into conformity, fearful of losing their status. The soldier is scared into obedience, following orders without question. The taxpayer is scared into compliance, fearful of audits and fines. The banker is scared into complicity, hiding behind legal loopholes. The lawyer is scared into silence, afraid to challenge the system. And the doctor is scared into submission, prioritising profit over patients.

The goon’s fear-mongering perpetuates a culture of oppression, where the vulnerable are exploited and the powerful remain unaccountable. It stifles dissent, suppresses creativity, and maintains the status quo. The goon’s presence ensures that the system remains unchanged, perpetuating cycles of exploitation and deception. By scaring individuals into submission, the goon enables the powerful to maintain their grip on society, crushing any hope of change or reform. In this way, the goon’s scare tactics perpetuate a culture of fear, maintaining the oppressive systems that benefit the few at the expense of the many.

Then, finally, the ultimate group — the politicians.

The politician lives happily, reaping the benefits of a system that exploits the poor, rich, soldier, taxpayer, banker, lawyer, doctor, and goon. They craft policies that favor the wealthy, receiving generous campaign donations and lucrative lobbying deals in return. The poor are left to suffer, their voices ignored as the politician prioritizes the interests of their wealthy benefactors.

The soldier fights wars that benefit the politician’s corporate allies, ensuring a steady supply of resources and funding. The taxpayer foots the bill, their hard-earned money squandered on unnecessary conflicts and military interventions. The banker and lawyer profit from the chaos, manipulating financial markets and crafting loopholes to avoid accountability.

The doctor treats the physical and emotional wounds of a society in disarray, their services exploited by the politician’s policies. And the goon enforces the politician’s will, silencing dissent and maintaining control through fear and intimidation.

Meanwhile, the politician enjoys a life of luxury, their wealth and power growing with each passing day. They attend lavish fundraisers, rub shoulders with celebrities, and vacation in exotic destinations. Their families are well taken care of, their children attending elite schools and securing high-paying jobs.

The politician’s happiness is built on the suffering of others. They thrive in a system that perpetuates inequality, exploiting the vulnerable and maintaining the status quo. And yet, they have the audacity to claim they serve the people, their words dripping with hypocrisy as they line their pockets with gold.

In this way, the politician’s happiness is a direct result of the exploitation and suffering of others. They are the beneficiaries of a system that values profit over people, power over justice. And until this system is dismantled, the politician will continue to live happily, their joy built on the backs of the oppressed.

Politicians are like master manipulators, using their charm to woo every group to their advantage. They court the poor with promises of hope, the rich with guarantees of power, the soldier with pledges of honor, the taxpayer with assurances of prosperity, the banker with whispers of profit, the lawyer with nods of understanding, the doctor with vows of support, and the goons with winks of approval. They drain the life from each, yet somehow leave no one feeling empty, for they’re experts at making empty promises to all. They build their careers on the hard work of the many and feed on the suffering of the marginalized. They’re the ultimate puppet masters, controlling the strings of deception, yet trapped by their own insatiable ambition.

In contrast to the politician’s exploitative nature, philanthropists like Dr. Iyiola Aiyeku and Chief (Mrs) Janet Aiyeku are dedicated to empowering future leaders to achieve meaningful personal goals. Through their charitable foundation, they provide educational scholarships, mentorship programs, and leadership training to deserving individuals.

Their selfless efforts aim to break the cycles of poverty, inequality, and exploitation, fostering a new generation of leaders who prioritize the greater good. By investing in the potential of young minds, they cultivate a culture of empathy, compassion, and social responsibility.

Through their philanthropic work, Dr. Aiyeku and Chief (Mrs) Aiyeku demonstrate that true leadership is about serving others, not exploiting them. They inspire a new wave of leaders to strive for excellence, integrity, and kindness, creating a brighter future for all. By supporting the development of future leaders, they pave the way for a society that values people over profit, justice over inequality, and compassion over exploitation.

Their legacy will be one of hope, empowerment, and positive change, an indication of the transformative power of philanthropy and selfless leadership. As a result, future generations will have the opportunity to thrive, free from the shackles of exploitation and oppression, and reach their full potential.