Saturday, March 21, 2009

Redistribution of Wealth

This was a treasure in a randomly forwarded email...

Yesterday 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/Biden 08" pin, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference.

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 someone who I deemed more in need, the homeless guy outside.

The server angrily stormed away.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $5 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 really pissed that I gave away the money he did earn even though the homeless guy seemed to need the money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

1 comment:

Garner As Mist said...

I love it, what a perfect demonstration of the practical difference between theory and practice.