Life is a beautiful thing. The natural world is resplendent with ancient wisdom.

Even a mother bird displays a kind of simple, passionate performance art in guarding her young. She loves them so much, even to the point of visciously dive-bombing the random house cat that may stalk below the tree.

And one day, mother bird - the Atlas of the nest of her children - pushes those children out. She cannot support them forever in some socialist utopia. It would kill her to try, and in fact kill the entire species.

So she forces them to learn one of life's greatest lessons, a lesson that lies at the heart of the entire wonderful circle of life. The lesson of self sufficiency.

In doing so, she sacrifices the weaker of her children to the biosphere. She strengthens the species this way. Nature thrives this way. Strong and beautiful creatures are produced this way.

Imagine having children.

Imagine them growing up.

Imagine them still living at home at age 30, without jobs. Eating all the food you can afford to buy. Draining your last penny on medical care. Working you into an early grave to support them.

Now imagine them having their own children, still living there. Imagine them teaching their children to live as they have lived - off of you.

Sooner or later, every Atlas shrugs. To do otherwise, brings only poverty, misery, and death.