@Tarnport It reminds me of a satirical poem I like. Background: we had a kind of permanent crisis for decades here, accompanied by official narrative of Great Success (there were jokes about steadily increasing locomotives-per-capita factor, or inflation being under control: food prices go up, but ships are now cheaper! – not entirely unlike the official speak). So, there was a “Polish recipe” poem (sorry, literal translation):

Take what is not there.
Add salt and cumin,
then mix with what
is temporarily unavailable on the market.

Mix thoroughly for a long time –
when you get bored, stop
and sprinkle with what
we absolutely cannot afford.

You can fry or bake it,
or roast it on a spit,
pouring over it something
you couldn't even dream of!

Everyone eats it here,
there is enough for everyone,
which is what the
Polish economic miracle is all about

by Marian Załucki