Understanding the economic bail out plan

United States
February 18, 2009 1:31pm CST
For those of you that do not understand the economic stimulus bill, well this little story might help you. Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says,"I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?" The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed. At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool. They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed. The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told. The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool. The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?" The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper. The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough. However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!" The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill." Tell me what you think.
3 responses
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Everyone is repeating that cute little story, but instead of reading that story, they should have read the stimulus package when it was put online and called their representatives and yelled at them not to vote for it. Most of our Congressmen admit that they never read the package and just voted for it. I read about three quarters of it. It was disgusting. Anyone with a brain would have voted against it. I will not vote for anyone who voted for that mess. If our country survives this, and this administration it will be a miracle and I do not have much faith in miracles. Shalom~Adoniah
• United States
19 Feb 09
I read some of it. It depressed me too much to keep reading. It was just one big pork fest. I did contact my senators. But I did not have to worry about preasuring Senator Graham much. If you watched CNN much you would realize he was against this bill and their was no way he was going to vote for him. I did call anyway. And after he voted against it I even called and left him a thank you message. I am very active in what our gov is doing on just about a daily basis.
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Good for you! If more people ddi that maybe we would not be in the mess were in now! Shalom
@rodney850 (2145)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Lilwonders, Excellent analogy! The only thing that could have made the story better would have been other students constructing a diving board at the shallow end of the pool because they really expected it to be deepened! Great story!
• United States
19 Feb 09
Thanks, I thought it was a good one too.
@loudcry (1043)
• India
8 Apr 09
This little story emphasisis the futility of the stimulus package. A myloter called obama obamunist. And communism it is. The companies that have received bailout money are, for all practical pourposes, nationalised. It is an utter waste of tax payers money.