Let's all "redistrubute the wealth"!
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
November 3, 2008 6:01pm CST
I received this from a friend and it is too good not to share -
"Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.
Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence.
When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someo ne who I deemed more in need - the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.
At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.
I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
REDISTRIBUTION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S WEALTH
GREAT IDEA ... or just a fools game?"
If we all started doing things like this; it would be chaos. Our tax dollars are already being "redistributed" (except for those people who do not pay any taxes anyway). Do we really need to have government (or anyone else) "redistributing" even more of th emoney we work so hard to earn?
4 responses
@mrsfred96 (85)
• United States
4 Nov 08
Obama can spread his own wealth however he chooses but he needs to keep his hands off mine. Let's encourage more people to be lazy and let the rest of us take care of them- don't we have enough people on welfare already? Why should we 'spread the wealth' to those who aren't willing to go out and work for it? I am tired of giving money away- money earned by hard working citizens- to those who are too lazy to take care of themselves.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
4 Nov 08
I have heard a lot of people during this campaign say that if Obama wins, it makes no sense to keep working and be penalized for it. I remember when tax rates were higher (before Ronald Reagan). The more money you made, the less you got to keep. Beyond a certain income level the reward for working hard disappeared. So why even try to be successful, if they are just going t take it all alway. His plans are an incentive NOT to work.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
4 Nov 08
Some "redistribution" is necesary to pay for things we all use and share and to help others when they NEED the help.
However, Obama keeps increasing the number of people he wants to "redistribute" MORE money away from. Originally, he said people making over $250,000. He then changed that to include anyone making over $200,000 a year. Then, that figure dropped to $150,000; and, NOW it is down to $125,000 a year. And, he hasn't even been elected yet!
At this rate, if he is elected, by the time he takes office he will be increasing the taxes on anyone to works! So, much for his promises to ease the "burden of the working people".
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
4 Nov 08
I must have missed the part about the government taking ALL of your earnings and giving them to someone else. I wish I was as smart as the person who made up that email...not. That really was a very poor example. 
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
4 Nov 08
No one said the government was going to take ALL of your earnings.
A waiter receives both a SMALL salary AND tips. Only part of the waiter's earnings were being taken away from him in the story; his boss was not taking his salary out to the homeless guy and other patrons were not doing the same thing - only his tips for the ONE meal were being taken away. Not really a lot of money; but, it does make an impact if that small amount is being taken away from YOU when you earned it.
Someone like Obama (and many politicians and lawyers) do not understand that to many working people even an extra $10 MEANS a lot.
@EAStanley (2688)
• United States
4 Nov 08
That is an interesting email. I totally see the point of it. Your example illustrates it clearly. It is not a good plan. But not everybody sees it the way that it really is. Thank you for your post. :)
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
4 Nov 08
You are welcome. I think most people are hoping they will be in the position of the "homeless guy" in the story and do not realize that they are most likely going to be the "waiter".
