Econ 101

[Bob Fechter]

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan"..
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A....

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.
As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Could not be any simpler than that.

Remember, there is a test coming up. The 2012 elections.

 

[Damian]

Bob I know it's hard to live in reality and care so deeply for those around you that you constantly try to help them but some on here are really happy living in fantasy land and no matter how many facts, anecdotes, etc. you use they will never change their minds. BTW I hope that you don't mind but I forwarded this to a few cool aide drinkers myself albeit just to rib them a little.

 

[Jim Craik]

Bob has plagerised word for word an old urban legand. This never happened!!!

This story has been around for a long time and had nothing to do with Obama.

Bob, If you print things you "find" please do not try and clame it as your own, try Snopes first.

I now expect the usual mean personal attack.....................

 

[Damian]

Oh I know it's old and the fact that it's an urban legend or not doesn't change the meaning. listen we all know that many TRUTHS are said in jest.

 

[Bob Fechter]

Yes, sorry, I should have quoted the whole thing. Wasn't thinking and certainly do not claim credit.

With 45% of our population not paying income tax (but still voting) and the ever present demand that the rich pay their fair share, I just thought it was a fun little story. Not to mention there probably aren't any Conservative teachers left to teach this kind of economics.

But, certainly, never again will I plagiarise any "old urban myths."

 

[Jim Craik]

Bob I know it's hard to live in reality and care so deeply for those around you that you constantly try to help them but some on here are really happy living in fantasy land and no matter how many facts, anecdotes, etc. you use they will never change their minds. BTW I hope that you don't mind but I forwarded this to a few cool aide drinkers myself albeit just to rib them a little.

So Damian,

When you were self righteously posting about "reality", "facts" and "fantasy land", you knew that Bobs post was a lie?

Have you told your "cool aid drinkers" that you knew this was untrue!

 

[Bob Fechter]

Its a parable, Jim.

"a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like." This quote is from dictionary.com.

 

[Damian]

Bob, Jim was just being argumentative. He's one of those people that I was talking about. I do still have hope for him because he seems to want to be proven wrong just so that when he is ready to come out of the closet and announce to the world that he has become a conservative and dare I say it a REPUBLICAN he will have all of his bases covered. He just needs a little more convincing. I kid Jim I kid.

 

[Jim Craik]

Bob, Jim was just being argumentative. He's one of those people that I was talking about.

Damian,

Let me see if I understand.................

Bob posts a little story attacking the left.

You then post self righteously about the left not understanding "reality", "facts" and they are in "fantasy land".

I point out that not only was this not his "story", but it is not true.

You then post that you knew all along that Bobs story was not true.

Finally you post that I'm just being argumentative.


So Damian, claming a story you did not write is OK?
Using an untrue story to attack the left is OK?
Agreeing with a story you know is untrue is OK

But calling you on these absurd facts is "just being argumentative"?

 

[Bob Fechter]

Damian,

Let me see if I understand.................

Bob posts a little story attacking the left.

You then post self righteously about the left not understanding "reality", "facts" and they are in "fantasy land".

I point out that not only was this not his "story", but it is not true.

You then post that you knew all along that Bobs story was not true.

Finally you post that I'm just being argumentative.


So Damian, claming a story you did not write is OK?
Using an untrue story to attack the left is OK?
Agreeing with a story you know is untrue is OK

But calling you on these absurd facts is "just being argumentative"?

Gee you're tedious, Jim.

I never intended for anyone to think it was my story. Should I start giving credit for every word I use i.e. "tedious: Origin: 1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin tēdiōsus, Late Latin taediōsus." Got that from dictionary.com again.

It's a parable, Jim. Hopefully, because Jesus used parables in his teachings, we don't find the parable getting itself banned in public spaces.

But boy, the rest of your statement is "mouse-trap-like" in its execution. If anyone has ever said this phrase or any variations of it, my apologies in advance.

 

[Damian]

Bob Jim is just busting chops. I think he actually fears BOTH of us going at him head on thus why he has not addressed the meaning of the story only the fact that it was a story. See he is good at arguing the fluff stuff but not the cold hard facts (not that any were posted but in general) since they always seem to be on the other side of his argument. Kind of like this ... The story at hand may be an urban legend but does it make the story less true? Jim are you saying that this is so far out of the realm of reality that this could NEVER happen or has never happened? Doesn't this sum up the whole occupy wall street movement to some degree? See there are many planes this can be referenced to but as you just refuse to see reality you will always fail in your arguments. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture only be realistic with your interpretation. As always we will keep the light on for you at the next republican convention (well even leave the back door unlocked so that you can sneak in without anyone seeing you).

 

[Damian]

Hey jim here is another one for you. legend or no it's point is clear.

 

[Bob Fechter]

Right on Damian. (the play on words i.e. "right on" possibly referring to the right side of the political spectrum, may have been previously used. I don't claim it as mine!)


I think we are going to see a LOT of reasonable Democrats who have found that their party has left them making their presence known.

I like your idea, Damian, that Jim is secretly questioning "What's Going On." (a song title written by Marvin Gay, which doesn't pertain to our subject, and is not claimed as my phrase, title, sentiment.)

 

[Bob Fechter]

Ah, excuse my impolite behavior, Jim, would you care to tell us, let's keep the parable theme going, how you see what 45% of our adult citizens not paying income tax while trying to raise taxes on that evil 1% is going to achieve?

(all statements have probably been used in a trillion different combinations. No claim as to them being lonesomebob's intellectual property are made here)®

 

[Damian]

I tried to erase my post

 

[Terry Oxandale]

Hey jim here is another one for you. legend or no it's point is clear.

I would love to see what this same person's opinion is of his situation 10 years from now (or then). I was self-righteous when I was young as well. Paid rent at home until 19, worked through college without a loan because I was taught you don't borrow if you cannot pay it back, became self sufficient immediately after college, and never depended on anyone to hand me anything. I was clearly a Conservative's poster child, but the greatest thing I learned in school was objective and critical thinking skills, and that the view of the world, as viewed as an idealistic adolescent was a far cry from the wisdom gained through observing reality through the years, and actually weighing the facts whenever it would directly conflict with my beliefs (or faiths).

 

[Bob Fechter]

I would love to see what this same person's opinion is of his situation 10 years from now (or then). I was self-righteous when I was young as well. Paid rent at home until 19, worked through college without a loan because I was taught you don't borrow if you cannot pay it back, became self sufficient immediately after college, and never depended on anyone to hand me anything. I was clearly a Conservative's poster child, but the greatest thing I learned in school was objective and critical thinking skills, and that the view of the world, as viewed as an idealistic adolescent was a far cry from the wisdom gained through observing reality through the years, and actually weighing the facts whenever it would directly conflict with my beliefs (or faiths).

So, Terry, is the kid you're calling self righteous the one who made some good choices in the picture of the poster above?

As far as what you learned in school, and I mean this with all due respect, one man's "objective and critical thinking skills" doesn't make sense at all to someone trained in a different philosophy. The danger comes when one group thinks theirs is the only point of view that make sense and anyone who thinks differently is stupid.

 

[Terry Oxandale]

The danger comes when one group thinks theirs is the only point of view that make sense and anyone who thinks differently is stupid.

Bingo! You've made my point better than I could have, and why the Paddock has lost its luster!