A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like many others her age, she considered herself a liberal Democrat, very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a staunch Republican.
One day she challenged her father on both his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more welfare 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 her how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load, constantly studying and had little time to go out and party like other people she knew.
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, and 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."
Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your friend 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, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really 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! She's got what she deserves!!"
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Watch yourself, you are starting to sound like a Republican!"
Ahhhh Andy. You know I love you, but I have to contradict.
ReplyDeleteLiberals don't want to take away from what you have earned, rather, to let you pay your own fair percentage of earnings, that would have caught you had you fallen, into the general good.
I rent. I pay more in taxes than my mother does. Frankly, she is better off, she makes more money (slightly), and I pay more than she does in taxes.
I have never claimed unemployment benefits (or any other government subsidized benefit in my life), but I have to tell you, if some day I should slip up, and get fired for no good reason, or because I made a mistake? Not only have I paid into social programs that should catch me, should I fall, but I think it is every workers (students) right to stand up for the benefits (grade) that they deserve, despite having been human, and not a computer.
Let the chips fall where they may.
;) Cece
Your parable is dead on Andy.
ReplyDeleteOH cece, I know your side has such good intentions. The big question is…what is a “fair percentage”? The only true “fair” tax would be a flax tax, which your side rejects. Also where does it say in the constitution that we deserve benefits? Plus the government is the most wasteful place possible to entrust to manage benefits. Almost every person would be better served managing their own benefits. I know your heart is in the right place but look deeper at the downsides of government involvement. As the government (under the direction of our liberal friends) has attempted to solve social problems the three great institutions of community, church, and family (that used to provide the support) have all fallen. When people get freebies from the government they feel entitled, have little incentive to improve, and enter a cycle of dependency. On the flip side, many people just pay their taxes and feel like they are off the hook to contribute to their fellow man in what would be a more personal and fruitful basis. In the past when most help came from community, church, and family people where humbled, supported, and had great incentives to improve. The liberal “great society” had the greatest of intentions, but what has resulted is the downfall of the foundations of America. We have spent over 8 trillion dollars on LBJ’s great society to try to help people, yet we have just as many poor and way more moral decay.
Sorry for writing a book Andy.
I'm pretty sure the Republican system would let the friend buy off some of the grade points for the right price.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can tell, Republican government's consistent principle over the past six years was that it was for sale, not that it believed that people should earn what they have.