Nasruddin and the Slave Chain

Nasruddin saw a wealthy merchant admiring an old iron chain in the town museum.

“Terrible times,” sighed the merchant. “Imagine: forcing people to work!”

“Barbaric,” Nasruddin nodded.

“Thank heavens slavery was abolished.”

“Indeed, great progress,” agreed Nasruddin. “Now people are free to choose.”

The merchant smiled, “Exactly!”

“Your workers, for example. Are they free?”

“Completely! Anyone can leave whenever they wish.”

“And if they leave?”

“They don't get paid, of course.”

“And if they aren't paid?”

The merchant shrugged,

“Well... then they don't eat.”

Nasruddin's eyes widened: “Ingenious!”

“What?”

“The old masters had to feed their slaves.”

The merchant stared at him.

Nasruddin began counting on his fingers:

“Food. Shelter. Guards. Chains. Locks...”

He shook his head, “Slavery was terribly expensive.”

“This is not slavery!” snapped the merchant, indignant. “My workers are free!”

“Of course!” said Nasruddin. “They can leave whenever they like.”

“Exactly.”

“Can they leave hunger behind too?”

The merchant said nothing.

Nasruddin looked again at the old iron chain.

“What an inefficient little thing.”

He smiled.

“Nowadays hunger does all the work for free.”