This little story is from an email forwarded to me from my dad...he got it from his brothers and so on...
Anyway, it really sends the message, loud and clear.
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Father / Daughter Talk . . . Sending a Clear Message
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 a rather 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 harbored 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 4.0 GPA, 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 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who has only 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, and how would that be fair! I've 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!' The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to the Republican party.' I
If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat, I'm all ears.
5 comments:
Wow! According to your didactic story all people who are low income, are basically lazy, good for nothing, and if they pulled themselves up by their boot straps they could make money too! and ALL people who are high income are incredibly hard workers and they never slack off, they work tirelessly, and sacrificially (i.e. the good ol' boys on wall street looking out for us on Main street).
When I look at myself, my family and America that is not what I see....I guess that's why I'm not a republican
that is a great story...dan and i are sending our absentee ballots with a team going back to America today. we have a lot of praying to do!
So people who are poor are simply lazy and irresponsible, and the wealthy are righteous and hardworking. Boy thats a really nuanced perspective.
In fact perspectives like that, which avoid all the complexity's inherent in the social problems we face as a country are exactly the problem.
Maybe you could imagine these two college students several years into the future, now they are young mothers...instead of a GPA boost, Audrey needs developmental therapy for her young child (or health insurance, or special education programs, or even basic needs like food), which is paid for by both mothers' tax dollars. The other mother sees it as a great privilege that her tax dollars support these and other programs for our most vulnerable little citizens.
Or, another scenario, instead of the father character, imagine Jesus Christ. And instead of a 4.0, the daughter character has two tunics. In Luke 3:11, I don't remember Jesus asking how hard anyone had worked for both his tunics.
the point is since the election, gas prices are down, the titans are 10-0 and phish is getting back together for a summer tour. i say keep spreadin'! YEE HAW!!
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