link to original reddit post by /u/ihaphleas

See the previous installments:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoldandBlack/comments/pa3acf/libertarian_fables/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoldandBlack/comments/pdt96c/more_libertarian_fables/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoldandBlack/comments/pf6h6g/even_more_libertarian_fables/

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The Lion and the Elephant, Ihaphleas

The Lion, being the king of the savanna, demanded tribute from all of the animals every year, except from the Elephant. The Elephant, though he was not fierce, seemed to be a favorite of the Lion. The Elephant always had the best place at the water hole, the Lion even moving to accommodate him. To all of this, the other animals protested, demanding that the Lion treat the Elephant the same as them, that he not be given special privileges. Still the Lion refused. Finally even the Hippo and the Buffalo complained, though they paid little tribute, thinking they could take the Elephant's place, and the Lion relented. He banished the Elephant and drove him away with the Jackal. From that day forward, the Lion took his tribute from the other animals as before as well as the best place at the water hole.

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The Ants and the Grasshopper, Aesop

The Ants were spending a fine winter's day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, "Why did you not store up food during the summer?" He replied, "I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing." They then said in derision: "If you were foolish enough to sing all summer, you must dance supperless to bed in winter."

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The Miser, Aesop

(This, I think, is a libertarian and anti-libertarian fable. But I'd like to come up with a response to it. It's libertarian in the sense that saving without eventual consumption is pointless ... and that a big part of the point of money is trade. However, it's anti-libertarian in the sense that there is always some demand to hold money, particularly in uncertain times, and that holding cash for a rainy day, and the feeling of security it gives, is one consumer good.)

A Miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray, do not grieve so, but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it."

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The Frogs Ask for a King, Aesop

The Frogs, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors to Jove entreating for a King. Perceiving their simplicity, he cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash occasioned by its fall and hid themselves in the depths of the pool. But as soon as they realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, and began squatting on it in contempt. After some time they began to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so inert a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Jove to pray that he would set over them another sovereign. He then gave them an Eel to govern them. When the Frogs discovered his easy good nature, they sent yet a third time to Jove to beg him to choose for them still another King. Jove, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron, who preyed upon the Frogs day by day.

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As always, I'm interested to hear if you have other fables, or just an outline or even just a particular libertarian moral you would like to see in fable form.

In particular, I'm trying to come up with one about three "kings" ... a Lion, who conquered his kingdom and rules by might; a Stag, who homesteaded his kingdom; and ... something else, perhaps a Fox, who is not a king, but was elected by making promises he can't possibly keep.