While scientists remain puzzled as to the cause of  the dramatic decline in honeybee populations in North America and elsewhere, some are speculating the cause may very much be human related; however, not technological, but  philosophical. It appears that “Randism”, a trend that has recently exploded on the American political landscape may similarly have caught on among our bee brethren. It seems that the reason for the decline of hive populations is that many bees are now practicing “the virtue of selfishness”, keeping the nectar they collect for themselves and not returning to the hives they emerged from. These bees consider the notion that they should return for the benefit of the whole colony “evil altruism” and look down upon the “Hive-ists” who would act for a goal larger than themselves. They argue that “there is no such thing as a species” and that it all comes down to individual bees and their pursuit of their own happiness. When it is pointed out to them that this could result in the extinction of honey bees and have cataclysmic results on worldwide crops, they scoff and say, “and this is my problem how?”

Meanwhile, more religious-minded bees are concerned about how to carry on in the aftermath of what they regard as “The Great Rapture” that has decimated their populations. “Left Bee-hive”, the bee adaptation of the “Left Behind” series of books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, paints a bleak picture of life on earth after the Chosen Bees have been taken up to their Maker.

So, will it be Rand that the bees turn to, or the Good Book? “Why should I care?”, a distraught bee who agreed to be interviewed for this article lamented. “It’s so hopeless that I just may go off somewhere and sting someone!”

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Questinia
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Apropos I recently found about a hundred honey bees buzzing on my lamb’s ears and lavender. Didn’t know I had them.

So, I just may get bee-hive boxes. Only I hope they aren’t Rand-bees cause then they’ll want their hives to go condo and have concierge service. I’m not up to that.

Emerald1943
Member

Love it, love it! Thanks for the good belly laugh! I needed that today!

escribacat
Member

U funny, whats!!

AdLib
Admin

Damn greedy bugs, all just want to be Beelionaires!

kesmarn
Admin

“It’s Probably ‘Bee'” Sting

ADONAI
Member

If this entire post was just an excuse to get in the “Left Bee-Hive” joke, I applaud you sir. I’m still laughing. And I hate puns.

Greta42
Member
Greta42

Hi whatsthatsounds – I thoroughly enjoyed your article, giving me my first laughs of the day. Your analogies were quite on target with the Randian bees narrowing view of their ‘community’ until it disappeared and only the individual bees remained solidly self-interested to the detriment of everything else. An apt description of the state of our current social/political scene.