Return of the Law of Unanticipated Consequences

December 19, 2012

A few months ago, my wife and I dined at a French restaurant. We were in withdrawal concerning the law prohibiting the sale of foie gras in California, where we live. I mentioned our unhappiness to the waiter. He said, “True, we can’t sell it anymore. So, we give it away. The law doesn’t prohibit free foie. There are dishes which aren’t on the menu, and when you order them, for example a plain green salad, you can ask for it to be topped with foie.”

I asked, “How would we know about them if they’re not on the menu?”

He replied, “You just asked about them.” He smiled.

I asked how much the salad is and he replied, “It’s thirty dollars.”

More expensive for a salad than for steak. But for someone who wants the product and knows the “password,” it’s still available.

The moral for us all, is that capitalism always seeks to find a way.  You may find the work-around difficult to find. You may find it to be nasty, but there will always be a work-around.