Leprechauns and The Wealth of Nations

In the car today, Daniel asked me whether America is the richest country in the world.  I told him I thought there were a few richer countries, in Europe.  Italy was his first guess.  Then Ireland.  I told him I didn't think Ireland was quite as rich as the U.S.  But Daniel reflected, and concluded - jokingly, I think - that Ireland has leprechauns, and leprechauns have pots of gold.  I agreed with him that at least the leprechauns must be rich.

Daniel went on to tell me that Mommy doesn't believe in leprechauns, but he does.  Something like, "I think they're half-real." This is what happens when a lad grows up along a migratory pattern emanating out of Boston.  Do I believe in leprechauns?

"Well, I've never seen one."

One time, years ago, one of the boys asked me, "Are leprechauns just pretend?"  I answered, "Uh - yeah!" And I was immediately reproached; the boys' classmates had seem them with their own eyes.

Finally, he proposed a very sophisticated Hegelian resolution.  Santa Claus might not be real as we depict him, but certainly Saint Nicholas is.  Could it be the same for leprechauns?

Certainly Saint Nicholas is real.  He still works miracles in our age.  But I didn't feel I had much more to contribute to the leprechaun dialog...