A few weeks ago someone was having big feelings and clearly was trying to insult economists in general and called us "intellectual mercenaries."

And while I know it was meant in an insulting way... I love it so much! So accurate, yet so badass seeming! I can't stop thinking of it!

So I of course had ChatGPT make a little portrait of me being an intellectual mercenary. To my absolute delight ChatGPT asked if I wanted a portrait of the villain in my story.

I thought what villain could there be to a mercenary except existential boredom and a dwindling pile of resources to sustain my vices? Oh my it was hilarious...

Villain: The Rent-Seeking Baron!!!!

Decked out in gilded armor made of monopoly contracts and tax loopholes.

Has a mechanical throne that runs on externalities and despair.

Wields a golden scepter shaped like a supply-demand curve twisted into a noose.

Constantly tries to privatize the air or rewrite public goods theory to serve his empire.