Three Guys on 52nd Street, A Parable of Partisanship

There were three men I used to watch as I loitered in front of the Port Authority in NYC. Two of the men, who I dubbed Republican and Democrat, would start a loud, passionate, and profanely funny political argument on the sidewalk. A crowd inevitably gathered, including the third man, a short fellow, who moved through them trying for a better view.

I'll bet you can guess what I called him. Yep, same as the cop who dispersed the crowd and took complaints - pickpocket!

Finally, after the unhappy marks were gone, the three men and the cop would split the take.