EVERY noble idea needs lampooning. History records that over and again mankind dreams up a perfect society, but eventually needs a bit of comic fantasy: a King Utopus.

These days, we side with Thomas More’s fantasy. Utopus managed to build a country without conflict, without defect, and without greed—but in order to do so he had to dig a channel and build a high wall. This sound, healthy country had to be separated from others to keep it fre