October 25, 2008
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SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND
On his way to lunch Bill passed a homeless guy with a sign that read ‘Vote Obama, I need the money.’ . . . . Bill laughed.
Once in the restaurant, his server had on an ‘Obama 08′ tie, again Bill laughed as he had given away his political preference–just imagine the coincidence.
When the bill came he decided not to tip the server and explained to him that he was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while Bill told him that he was going to redistribute his tip to someone who he deemed more in need–the homeless guy outside. The server swore and stormed away angrily.
Bill went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as he’d decided the homeless guy could use the money more.
At the end of this rather unscientific redistribution experiment you have to conclude:
- The homeless guy was grateful for the money he didn’t earn,
- The waiter was pretty angry that his money was given away (reasoning he had worked for it)
- The actual recipient deserved the money more than the waiter.
I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
IS REDISTRIBUTION OF SOMEONE ELSE’S WEALTH A GREAT IDEA…………..or is it just welfare?
Comments (4)
I dunno. That’s a good question, though, isn’t it?
If Obama’s plan involved giving tax breaks to the lower class than the middle class, then it might* be welfare, except that they are giving back money that was paid in taxes and not exactly simply giving away money. The way President Bush’s policies have worked in the last eight years, the top 90% essentially pay very little taxes where the middle class picks up the bulk of the government taxes. It’s not quite socialism like this anecdote tries to portray it as, but it does “redistribute” the wealth in that it takes some of the burden off of the middle class and more off the lower middle class.
Interesting anecdote though. Definitely entertaining! Thanks =)
@Thatsfirecracker -
I think you misspoke about the top 90% paying very little taxes. And I believe the middle class is actually in the upper 90%
You are correct that it isn’t quite socialism; it’s more like communism. I think sharing the wealth is a Marxist principle.
haha
I don’t think you’ve studied much Marx!
Communist, in the purist sense, and in the Marxist(ist?) sense, would mean utopia. Communism is the final stage of Marx’s outline of the road toward Communism, and perfect intellectual and industrial equality. Socialism in his terms, would start with the dictatorship of the proletariat in pre-industrialized countries, where socialism is enforced. Socialism is the first stage, communism is the last. No country has ever achieved “communism.”
You can say it’s Marxist(and be partially correct), but that would likely be the same as saying it is Socialist. Because Marx pretty much defined socialism for us.