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 among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor
of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words
redistribution 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 need for more government 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 your 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 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's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've
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.'
college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very
liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor
of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words
redistribution 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 need for more government 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 your 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 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's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've
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.'
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