The Yellow Brick Road
 

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Several books, articles, and commentaries have been written about Lyman Frank Baum’s original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the allegorical relationship of the book’s theme to the political events of the late nineteenth century.

Unlike the popular movie enjoyed by all generations for decades, the original story supposedly was a political commentary and allegory, particularly addressing the Populist movement; specifically the battle between those supporting a gold standard and those supporting bimetallism (silver and gold).

The Tin Woodman represented the oppressed industrial tradesman. The Scarecrow characterized the wise but naive western farmers of America. The Cowardly Lion was Williams Jennings Bryan. The Emerald City signified the nation’s capitol. The Munchkins denoted the people. The Wizard represented the President and was a charlatan who tricked people into thinking he can do things that cannot be done, with powers he did not possess. Dorothy’s silver slippers represented silver coinage, that silver would free America and not the gold standard. The Emerald City denoted paper currency—which used green ink. The Wicked Witch of the East signified the money powers and elite who oppressed the people into working slave relationships. The 7 passages and 3 flights of stairs in the palace symbolized the Crime of ’73, which halted the minting of silver coinage. The word “Oz” is nothing more than the abbreviation for ounce.

The Yellow Brick Road represented the gold standard, which led all the way to Washington, D.C. (the Emerald City), and represented a dangerous road to travel.

The moral of the original story was that silver was not really the important issue (Dorothy lost her silver slippers while returning home to Kansas). The real issue was power and who wielded that power. Whether the allegory is true is unimportant to us except as a historical note. What is important is the stage was set during that period for the battle now confronting all of America—and the world. That problem is the proper role of money. Who creates money, and who controls money? Should a select few control the money supply, or should the people? The Yellow Brick Road is not about gold, or even money, but freedom.

Click on me and relax…