The college girl and the evil Republican

[Nanuk]

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
was very much in favor of the distribution 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 addition of more government 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 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 you 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 your 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 by her father's suggestion, 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!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently,
"Welcome to the Republican Party."

[naturenut]

Smart Dad- If this were real,I would love to know the daughter's reply!

[Lvethemtn]

Love it!!![spin]

[KemCam2]

Witty.

[KatherineA]

Well, if she were a bright girl, she might say: Dad you are trying to compare apples and oranges ? which only works if you are making fruit salad.

In the argument presented in the joke, it seems hard to argue for GPA redistribution, and therefore hard to argue for wealth redistribution. However, a GPA is an intangible item that is not subject to distribution to others ? as is cash or other tangibles.

Imagine you earn three loaves of bread a day, if you eat two of them you are full and the third one you trade for some wine, for pleasure. Would you refuse that one of your loaves be redistributed to a man who has no food, and without it will starve? Suddenly in this context it looks unreasonable to argue against wealth redistribution. How callous would a man have to be that he was not prepared to give up a bottle of wine with his meal, to save another man's life.

A given amount of money is of lesser value to a rich man than to a poor man. The first few units of a persons income are spent on the essentials i.e. food drink and shelter. As a person becomes richer they start to buy luxuries, things that they do not really need but which make life more pleasant.

(Reply partially 80% plagerized from a website by an anonymous poster - but I liked his response to this joke)

[KemCam2]

Yeah but, how hard is the poor man working at getting his own bread?
I would not be a happy camper if I was forced into givng up my wine to a lazy poor man doing nothing to get his own damn bread....

[Pfeifcat]

Hey Katherine ? So are you redistributing all of your ?extra? earnings to help the less fortunate? I don?t mean just a little to charity, but everything over and above what is required to meet your essential needs? I?ll bet what you keep for yourself in the name of ?essential needs? is quite an extravagant luxury to many folks who are starving.

That was quite a ?pie in the sky? response to what is really a funny joke.

[spin]

[KatherineA]

Spoken like a true Republican. (insert tentative smiley)

Keep in mind (occasionally)that poor does not necessarily mean lazy.

(insert another smiley).

[derricksonb]

While it's true that poor doesn't always mean lazy, it can be equated to the level of education. Most people in this country who have nicer things also have some form of college degree while the majority of those less fortunate do not. I'm not saying that there aren't people with MBAs or PHDs living in trailers or that there aren't high school drop outs living in upscale neighborhoods, but it's not very common.

Sorry to all the "have-nots" out there but as one of the "haves" I happen to like my bread and my wine. In fact I like my bread to be surrounding dead cow that has been marinated and sauteed with onions and more wine then covered with melted cheese- preferably provolone. I consider myself to be a very generous and giving person but when faced with the dilema of giving up what I worked hard to obtain, need to sustain life or that which I enjoy to help someone who refuses to help himself then sorry for 'em. I'll be over here in one of my warm houses eating a Philly Cheesesteak and having a glass of merlot while they're out in the cold starving. I might even occasionally hold up a sign between commercials from my Lazy-Boy toward the window that they're staring through that says "Get a Job. The Home Depot is always hiring."

Funny- all these years I considered myself to be a Democrat- Guess I was wrong......

[KemCam2]

Katherine says:
Keep in mind (occasionally)that poor does not necessarily mean lazy.

But it is the poor lazy man I refuse to give my bread to.

[naturenut]

quote:Originally posted by KatherineA

The first few units of a persons income are spent on the essentials i.e. food drink and shelter. As a person becomes richer they start to buy luxuries, things that they do not really need but which make life more pleasant.

I know plenty of people who DON'T wait to become richer before they buy luxuries. They want it, they think they deserve it, so they get it. They don't care if they've earned it. You don't need a college education to be comfortable in life, (although it helps), and having the education is no guarantee. There are people who make great money, but still live paycheck to paycheck, and there are those who make "ok" money, but they are comfortable. It's about priorities and choices. I have no problem with giving, but I want to know it's to someone who is being responsible and trying to help themselves, not to someone just taking advantage.

[Nanuk]

Katherine,

There is a big difference between voluntarily sharing with those in need (charity) and being forced to give up what you've earned by threat of force (taxation).

I do not begrudge someone a helping hand if they need it due to circumstances beyond their control and I give quite a bit every year to charities and causes like Katrina aid. However I and others who work hard to attain a good life and comfortable retirement resent it when poverty pimps (Mostly Liberal Democrats) put the arm on us and take what we worked for without asking us and dole it out to people who are poor because they are lazy or made a lot of stupid choices in their lives. And it's especially galling when these Liberal Democrats act like they are giving these people "the government's money" when it's really MY money and that of other people who worked hard or made the right choices only to be robbed of part of what we had coming.

Personally I'd like to see the rich Liberals who support this wealth redistribution taxed of all of their own excess wealth before anyone comes for mine.

[Felix]

As people earn more, they tend to spend more. My income more than doubled since 3 years ago. It helps that I found a career instead of a job, but I still don't seem to get far ahead. Bigger paycheck, buy a house, pay bills, pay more in taxes, pay off school loans, raise a family, etc.. I may get ahead of the bills(no I don't need cable, but I have it), but there isn't a lot left over when you need house repair/upgrades, car repair, groceries, gas for vehicles, and all those other recurring expenses.
If I am out and about and I see someone starving to death, yes I would probably give them something to eat(not the wine of course)...and I have before. I don't believe they are entitled to my food or my generosity, but I will still give it. IF by doing so I do not take away from myself or my family in any meaningful way.
How many of us roll up the window at a stoplight when the homeless man walks up? For safety I would think most of us. But we usually throw change in the United Way buckets. Do we not trust the man with money? I prefer to give them food. Perhaps an extra cheeseburger I didn't need or want.
I don't owe others what I have worked to obtain(except taxes) for myself and family, and I will not accept others telling me that I do. That being said, if I have some to spare and I am in the mood, then I will be happy to give what I can.

[KemCam2]

I always give to the homeless guy at the stoplight. As long as he isn't walking up to my car - If they are sitting there with a sign or whatever, I?ll stick my hand out the window with some change or a few bucks. (Whatever I have).
I always feel so badly for them, maybe I shouldn?t for some, but I think about what they have gone through to get where they are, do they have a family they are trying to support?Sure they are probably a drunk but you never know?I choose to imagine them in a good light. (As good as can be).[Angel15]


However, I have learned it is better to give the guy asking for money for food, some food. It is very common of them (the homeless) to ask for money for food and turn around to buy booze or a bag.
I know a girl who, after being asked (begged) for some money for food, went to the local bistro bought him a sandwich and a soda and then had it thrown in her face when she gave it to him. [angel7] Goes to show ya![xx(]

KC2
[teddy]

WOWZER- Where'd the humor go!?!?!

[derricksonb]

I always like to throw business cards into homeless peoples buckets. Not mine of course, but annoying people who have given me theirs. Not only does it give me a warm and fuzzy to think that I might be giving this person the chance to turn his life around, but I LMAO thinking about the poor schmuck on the other end who gets a call from the irate (hopefully drunk) homeless guy cursing him out for putting a business card in his bucket.

KC- I hope that brings the humor back.