The Fire Alarm

 The fire alarm

It once had a purpose 

to warn us and wake us from our sleep

but when it went off too much we ignored it

we failed to listen once when it mattered

so we created a means of enforcement to remind us

but it went off again

so now we have to check it

but we fail to check it

so we create a checker 

with a purpose - to check it

what do we check?

how often?

the checker decides

but it could fail between checks

so we check it more

but we check it too much and the checks become like the original alarm

so we stop allowing the checker 

(we stop paying to have it checked)

but the checker has a purpose

we could have a fire

we have to check it

we took away its purpose

the checker is a means of enforcement

the checker returns

but who pays the checker?

the checker has purpose, and a means of enforcement

so we grant the checker a fee

but there is not enough to check

so there is more to check

and with that more payment

but there is too much to check

so there are more checkers

and who pays?

so there are more checks

but are the checkers checking?

and checkers to check the checkers

but what are we checking?

trainers to train the checkers

but what are we training?

trainers to train the trainers

but who is trained?

trackers to track the training

but what have we checked?

trackers to track the checking

but there is not enough to check

business development to find more to check

advertisement

but what pays for what?

accountants to track money

but who decides?

administration to decide

but is administration making the right decisions?

auditors to audit

a board to oversee

what happens if the check fails?

we need better alarms

what are better alarms?

we need standards

who sets the standards?

standard makers

who who checks the standards?

standard checkers

who how do standard checkers learn the standards?

standard checker trainers

who tracks the standards?

standard trackers

but there are too many standards

we create a code of standards

but who chooses which standards to be in the code?

we need code of standards deciders

but who enforces the code?

code enforcement

but don’t we have checkers?

yes, checkers check, code enforcement makes sure you are up to code

there was an alarm

there were many alarms

reporters to report on the alarms

there are not enough alarms

reporters remind us by reporting more on previous alarms

there are not enough previous alarms

reporters remind us of the importance of the alarms and the standards and the codes

who pays for the reporters?

advertising along with the reporting

advertising?

to tell us what the best alarms are…

means of enforcement, and payment to keep alive

what we gave begins to control us

we refuse again

but it is a means of enforcement

with payment to keep going

as long as it checks

it is a means of enforcement

with payment

means of enforcement

payment

enforcement