The Byzantine Pineapple (Part 1)

Poje furnishes a sweeping critique of the current American systems of law, economics, and governance, and proposes an alternative.  According to Poje (Painless, 2008) the American “socioeconomic legal political system,” or SELP, is so thoroughly plagued by “inherent flaws” that it can’t be remedied by a series of targeted tweaks—it must be entirely replaced. At the heart of the problem is a gratuitously impenetrable complexity: The legal system is so “arcane” that no citizen understands it, and each citizen is necessarily involved in some illegal activity. Likewise, the tax system is similarly labyrinthine and seems chiefly designed to pit citizens against one another in a contest for resources. Finally, a burgeoning matrix of social welfare programs is doomed to fail to treat citizens equally, again inevitably stoking the flames of class conflict. Instead of a well-functioning society, Americans are subjected to a “Byzantine pineapple,” which the author attempts to explain this way: “Those who get the tax money are those inside the pineapple of government dole, while those outside the Byzantine pineapple get deterred by the outer defense mechanisms of the pineapple.” It’s never entirely clear what precisely he means by this demarcation—the principal point seems to be that such a system necessarily involves favoritism. The author proposes that the current tax system be replaced by a flat tax—he includes a macroeconomic formula to determine its specific nature—and an equal monthly stipend for all citizens. He recommends the termination of need-based government programs, though the government would pay all medical bills. Poje anticipates that a streamlined SELP, including a government hamstrung by tight spending limits, will produce ample tax revenue to cover the new costs. The author also outlines the establishment of a corporation to steward these changes, which includes the marketing plan for a movie that further educates Americans about the SELP he advocates. Poje’s critique is sensible if familiar—it’s hard to argue that the current tax regime isn’t monstrously bloated. However, his study offers hyper-general declaration in the absence of detailed analysis—a more rigorous empirical appraisal would have been more helpful than a chapter on the way his “lifetime of accomplishment” justifies his expertise. Also, while he admits he has no background in film, he seems quixotically convinced his will be a big hit and “it will succeed where Ben-Hur failed.” Overly broad declamation and triumphalism crowd out scrupulous analysis. 

The Byzantine Pineapple: Part 1 with Corporation X by Bill Poje is a narrative on how the current
socioeconomic conditions of the USA are deteriorating and how these can be improved. The book
raises some very courageous questions and, after asking them, the author proposes some very
valid answers and solutions. Mr. Poje is of the opinion that every citizen should be treated equally,
especially in regards to medical facilities and housing. He is not just making claims; he refers to
the Federal Budget of 2013 and draws conclusions as to what he proposes is beneficial for people
across the board. While the rich get richer and the poor become poorer, the author specifically
attacks this and asks the government to take a step back, look at the bigger picture and try to
tackle the issue in the best possible way. Flat tax rate and transparency as to where the tax money
goes are also addressed very eloquently. In the second half, the author talks about how his works
(some of which I have read) can be made into motion pictures and can be financially lucrative for
investors. He lists the pros, gives solid data and allows the reader to think about it.

What I really enjoyed about this book is how the author wasn’t making any predictions in the first
half of the book. He was presenting an idea based on his research and allowing the reader to have
some food for thought. His ideas are very interesting and if they are worked upon, they can
become a very good first step for equal treatment in the country. What really drew me in was how
hopeful and clear the message was. The author is literally inviting the reader in and helping them
to draw their own conclusions, allowing them to have their own thoughts and make their own
decisions. The simple yet powerful word choice is an essential part of the book; it made the
reading experience even better. All in all, this is a book for readers who would like to think ahead,
but with sound reasoning. A good approach that can be beneficial for the masses, if applied.

Hugh Prather once said, “Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes.” In author Bill Poje’s novel The Byzantine Pineapple (Part 1) and Corporation X, readers are given an inside look into what exactly the “Byzantine Pineapple” is and why it’s important to incorporate change into the modern world order.
This book explores the concept of finding a way to adapt and grow with the changing population and world we live in. Referring to the laws and systems in which our society is governed as “Byzantine,” or outdated in nature. While the modern person is taxed by these outdated laws and regulations, the government officials reside within the metaphorical “pineapple” collecting and using that money while the average citizen is kept from enjoying the fruits of their labor by the outer shell or defenses of that “pineapple.”
The author does a marvelous job of outlining the concept of this Byzantine Pineapple, going into how the current political and economic system works against the average citizen, how neither the left nor the right of political parties are able to grasp the right way to achieve the basic functions of a society in today’s age, and how our current societal, economic and political systems add layers of byzantine laws that continue to divide our social classes and disrupt our society as a whole.
This novel is perfect for anyone who seeks to understand how our society has evolved to the chaotic point it has gotten to. It is also for anyone who enjoys economic, political or societal analyzing reads, as well as anyone who enjoys studying business as a whole. I enjoyed it because for years now I’ve shared the same sentiment, albeit on a broader scale. The current laws, at least in the United States, have always been outdated to me. As our society grows, technology gets more complex and people become more open minded and accepting of things that were considered “taboo” at one point or another, the laws of any given nation need to change or be rewritten to reflect those changes.
This is a must-read book, especially in our current turbulent times. The author’s background in economics and business make the concept of the book shine brightly, and the way the author lays out a comprehensive plan to get the four pillars of society (fair wage, housing for all citizens, healthcare coverage not insurance, and equality for all) makes it feel as if the average citizen can have hope for a brighter and more sustainable future. Even the second part of the text, which analyzes Corporation X (a global sales plan for the works of the author as books, movies and merchandise), was both entertaining and great to see strategically laid out for the reader to gain insight and a concept for how that business works. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of The Byzantine Pineapple (Part 1) and Corporation X by Bill Poje today!

Bill Poje’s The Byzantine Pineapple (Part I) with Corporation X is comprised of two disparate books: one political and the other about his book and film projects.

In the first (Byzantine Pineapple), Poje, who holds an MBA, outlines what he believes is wrong with America’s “socioeconomic legal political” system. He criticizes the norm of political administrations whose “first rule…is to keep power as long as possible,” the inequity of laws enriching “those at the top,” and a “Byzantine” layering of impossibly complex regulations. He also decries the “inherent flaws of needs-based social welfare programs” and the problems with a national budget based on assumptions concerning factors like the annual inflation rate. Among his solutions are a flat tax comprised of designated subrates to control funding for each government department and provide money for the health care and income of each citizen.

Poje purposely couches his problems and solutions in “simplistic” terms that “common people” will understand. Unfortunately, this approach leads to over-generalization. For instance, he states that U.S. laws have “basically made all citizens illegal,” a statement woefully lacking in the support necessary to make it believable.

In the second book (Corporation X), Poje describes his completed books and book and movie proposals and explains why potential investors should have confidence in them. In particular, he gives the business plan for Painless, an action/crime film, and seeks to demonstrate by his critiques of other films (Ben Hur, Sea of Trees, etc.) why he would be a successful writer and producer. These critiques, except for one, are aimed at future shareholders and are comprised, largely, of analyses of data obtained from websites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.

As such, Corporation X is unlikely to interest any but potential investors. Meanwhile, The Byzantine Pineapple would reinforce the ideas of like thinkers but needs far more documentation to interest most readers. Overall, it’s hard to imagine an appropriate audience for this work combining two wildly diverse topics.