A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was arather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harboured an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Audrey doing?" She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."
Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off yourGPA and give it to yourfriend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."
The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I'veworkedreally hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!" The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently,"Welcome to the Republican party."
5 comments:
This is one of the best stories I've read on re-distribution of wealth, Ellie. It's been around before, but still one of my favorite re-cycled items.
I can't wait to see if any "left wing loonies" jump on this one with their words of obfuscation. ;-)
That's outstanding.
Very good, Ellie. I will remember this as The Parable of the Good Student.
57 days. You are getting in the zone, babe.
I've read this one before and I wish it were just that simple...
obfuscation is the operative word here. redistribution of wealth is not really the issue, the true issue is who earns, (or more accurately, who benefits), who pays, who doesn't and in what proportion?. the tax code is in need of dire simplification and a healthy dose of transparency.
then we can rationally discuss "redistribution".
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