On Tides and Storms

We often hear the maxim that rising tides lift all boats. But what about lowering tides? We don't hear about that as a maxim. Surely lowering tides must also affect all boats, though in an equal but opposite manner.

Not in the waters I know.

The so-called economic expansion of the past four or so years has not been a tide which raised all boats; just the yachts, not the row boats.

And the housing bubble has not grounded all boats, just the row boats, not the yachts.

My wish is that the upcoming general election be a bloodless revolution of the row boats, a kind of perfect storm, sending the yachts scurrying to any port in the storm.

Leanderthal, Lighthouse Keeper