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General discussion

Reality 101

Dec 17, 2003 12:53AM PST

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 for distribution of all wealth. She felt deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican which she expressed openly.

One day she was challenging her father on his beliefs and his opposition to higher taxes on the rich & more welfare programs. In the middle of her heart felt diatribe based upon the lectures she had from her far left professors at her school, he stopped her and asked her point blank, how she was doing in school.

She answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain. That she had to study all the time, never had 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 of spending all her time studying. That she was taking a more difficult curriculum.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Mary."

She replied, "Mary is barely getting by", she continued, "all she has is barely a 2.0 GPA" adding, "and all she takes are easy classes and she never studies." But to explain further she continued emotionally, "But Mary is so very popular on campus, college for her is a blat, she goes to all the parties all the time and very often doesn't even show up for classes because she is too hung over."

Her father then asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0." He continued, "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 the father's suggestion angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I worked really hard for mine, I went without, while Mary has done little or nothing, she played while I worked real hard!"

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

Discussion is locked

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Mythology 101
Dec 17, 2003 2:58AM PST

Another "parable" purporting that the poor are poor by choice, and/or because they're just too darned lazy.

Obviously there are people for whom this is true, but to generalize that way I think does a disservice. There are plenty of poor/lower income people in this country who work just as hard (if not harder) than their successful counterparts.

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Re:Mythology 101
Dec 17, 2003 9:51PM PST

Yea, it's liking telling a person without boots to pull themselves up by the straps.

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Worth watching ...
Dec 17, 2003 10:00PM PST
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Re:Worth watching ...
Dec 18, 2003 1:56AM PST

who said anything about redistribution of wealth??? I was just commenting on blanket statements about the poor !!!!

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Sorry MK ...
Dec 18, 2003 2:09AM PST

... but that was the message of Del's post. The idle rich and unrewarded hardworking poor are as for the most part erroneous stereotypes used by the socialists to take from those who have earned to give to those who have not.

Evie Happy

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Re: I was responding in agreement to Josh' post!!! nt
Dec 18, 2003 2:22AM PST

.

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which was a comment ...
Dec 18, 2003 3:07AM PST

... on Del's.

Agreed, not all poor are lazy.

But very few hard working stay poor for long.

Evie Happy

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Re: OK Evie .. Don't want to turn a few words into a rubberband. Geez!! nt
Dec 18, 2003 4:38AM PST

.

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Because most is skimmed off by fat cat Republicans and as for the poor:
Dec 18, 2003 2:44AM PST

"Politicians control their housing, their food supply, their schooling, their wages, and their transportation. A centralized government makes decisions about their childcare, healthcare, and retirement. It controls their reproduction through abortion and wants to control their deaths through euthanasia."

Rosalie
----
Remember the Reason
for the Season
.

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Republicans? Try again Rosalie.
Dec 18, 2003 3:09AM PST

The Plantation is a Welfare Industry (complete with financial incentives) driven by the "progressive" Democrats.

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Re:Mythology 101
Dec 18, 2003 1:51AM PST

Only because you choose to read it that way and refuse to admit that Republicans do not have any problem with helping others to help themselves, it is only being forced to help those who could help themselves but choose otherwise that is resented.

Charity begins at home and it has no place in government mandates.

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My opinion of the confusion here is
Dec 18, 2003 12:16PM PST

that the problem is there are hard working, or willing to be working, poor people that didn't choose to be poor.

But there is also those that do choose to take what they can get without working for it. That hurts the unwilling poor as much or more than it hurts those of us in the middle class paying the taxes.

roger

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Very good!
Dec 17, 2003 3:01AM PST

On a related note, I'm getting more and more discouraged each semester at the student's general attitudes towards class attendance, timely submissions, etc. continue to decline.

When a person gets a 35 on a final exam and then emails me how they needed a C to maintain their GPA for their major, well ... shoulda thought of that before you attended only every 5th lecture!

Evie Happy

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Re:Very good!
Dec 17, 2003 4:06AM PST

And that example was exactly the point of the
story, not the example of Josh's, which we can
all agree is true to an extent.

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You Will Never Forget...
Dec 17, 2003 11:44PM PST

A young man was working hard to put himself through school because his parents weren't wealthy enough to pay for his classes. In addition to a full load in school, this man had to work 3 minimum wage jobs in order to pay for books, tuition, housing, and food. The young man got very little sleep as a result. Because he had to devote so much time to non-scholastic activities, he wasn't able to ace every test. But he did the best he could...

The young man noticed that there were many who never had to work and rarely showed up for class. He spoke to one of these guys and asked him how he paid for everything. "My dad pays for it", he said, "because he owns a large factory and has a lot of money"...

The young man was discouraged as he discussed this with his father. Why should I have to work so hard and lose so much sleep while there are some who have so much and never have to do anything? His father proclaimed that if he worked real hard, maybe someday he can make something out of his life...

So imagine his delight when the young man noticed that the rich bar-hopper dropped out of college. His father was right. If he continued to work real hard and finish school, then someday he can make something good out of his life. So he worked diligently until he completed school. The young man didn't receive his 4.0 GPA, but he did the best that he could and he paid for everything. Surely employers would understand...

After searching for a job unsuccessfully for many months, he finally found a company that was willing to give him a chance. Unfortunately, they wanted him to work at an incredibly low wage. But the young man was becoming desperate so he decided to take the job and try to prove himself through his work. Since he was being paid a menial salary, there was no overtime pay. So the company expected the young man to work long hours six days a week. He thought that would be OK for a while because surely his boss would recognize his contributions and reward him handsomely down the road. So he continued working diligently for this company...

Then one day, it was announced that there was going to be a new manager. Apparently the old manager was going to be fired and the boss's son would be taking his place. Imagine the young man's surprise and dismay when the new boss turned out to be the drop out kid that had it so easy in college. How could someone who has never worked hard and never lost any sleep in order to make ends meet get off so easy? This just didn't make any sense. But the young man decided to bite his lip and continue working hard in hopes that his new boss would recognize his talents and reward him handsomely some day...

After several years of hard work, the raises had been slow and trivial and the work never let up. One day, it was announced that there would be layoffs. The young man felt confident that he would survive these layoffs since he had always produced more than most and his boss would recognize his contributions for what they were. But after a full and long day's shift, it was announced that all local jobs would be lost and the jobs would be exported over-seas. Everyone was to pack up their things and leave the company immediately. As the young man was leaving the property, he noticed his boss sitting in his $250,000 Lamborghini smiling as they all left...

The young man went back to his father and asked how this could happen? He worked so hard for so long and had very little to show for his contributions. How can this be fair? His father looked at him and smiled and said, welcome to the Democratic Party. Now that you have tasted the wrath of the Republican right, you will never support any party that provides welfare to the rich who party high and never contribute anything to society. You will never support any party that rewards people who hurt so many others. You now know what it's like to be at the mercy of those who don't have your best interest at heart and you will now and forever work hard to make sure that these people cannot doom your future ever again. You will never forget how they treated you. And he never did...

This is Reality 101 for the majority of Americans...

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Re:You Will Never Forget...
Dec 17, 2003 11:54PM PST

A delightful fanciful tale there Blake. That is not reality for anywhere near the majority but you keep on believing it and spinning it along with your other tales.

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For a second there I thought.....
Dec 18, 2003 12:33AM PST

....this story was going to end with the "rich bar-hopper" becoming President of the United States.

Wink

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And I thought........
Dec 18, 2003 1:58AM PST

it was going to end with the poor, underprivileged, hard working student becoming President of the US like Abraham or Billy.

Yes, wealth in the family has its advantages but it had to start somewhere with actual hard work and dicipline (kind of like old Joe K. and his privileged boys).

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Be honest, Edward...
Dec 18, 2003 2:21AM PST

Be honest, Edward, Sam Giancana gave Jack Kennedy a little help also. And not only money (grin).

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True but then one would have to...
Dec 18, 2003 2:34AM PST

mention Clinton's "Sugar Daddy(s)" too.

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And I thought........
Dec 18, 2003 3:13AM PST

... it sounded more like a Divinity school flunk out Presidential wannabe turned Columbia University journalism professor than a Harvard MBA, Navy fighter pilot. Wink

Earth to his critics: Flight school is no walk on the beach!

Evie Happy

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Re:And I thought........
Dec 18, 2003 5:47AM PST

Glad you recognize that Clinton worked very hard to get where he got, and that Bush pretty much had it handed to him on a platter.

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Re:Re:And I thought........
Dec 18, 2003 6:47AM PST

Long as you are aware of Clinton's "Sugar Daddies" and their assistance.

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I know this person! And several more just like it. --NT
Dec 18, 2003 2:34AM PST

.