Man goes out early in the morning on a rumor that fresh meat will be for

sale in the local provisions store. He stands on line all day in the

freezing cold outside the store. When evening comes, a security man shows

up and addresses the line. “There will be no meat delivery today,

Comrades.”

The man loses his temper. “I’ve been standing here all day in the cold.

Now you tell us there’s no meat after all. It’s a disgrace the way this

country is run.”

The security man goes over to him. “Comrade,” he says quietly, “that’s no

way to speak in front of other citizens. You could spread discontent. I’m

not going to take this any further, but remember what can happen to trouble

makers.” He forms his hand into a pistol shape and points it at his temple.

The man goes home. Seeing him empty handed, his wife says: “What? They’ve

run out of meat again?”

“Worse than that. They’ve run out of bullets.”