Have folks seen the recent "experiment in income redistribution" going around the net? An in-law posted it on his facebook wall. Join we on the flip side to see it and my response...
Here's the "experiment":
How to spread the wealth?
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 someone 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 needed money more.
I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
My response on his wall:
You ought to link to where you got that tale... at first I thought you thought of it (Google quickly pointed out it's all over the web).
Of course no one is talking about taking money from waiters who survive on tips with an average salary well below minimum wage and giving it to a "bum" on the street. It's simply about putting the tax rate on those over $250K (do you qualify?) back to where it was under Clinton (and still 19% less than under Reagan). Unless McCain is now campaigning for a flat tax, then he's completely supporting "redistribution of wealth" as well.
These lines of attack are mean-spirited, not funny or enlightening. Ever hear of the expression "but for the grace of God, there go I" and "I am my brother's keeper", and ...
There are millions of Americans losing jobs, going bankrupt trying to pay medical bills, losing their homes because they can no longer pay the mortgage AND buy food, pay the heat, etc. There will be millions more before we come out of this.
Reading a bit more from the google search, I found in the replies to this, a response a bit better than mine, I think:
Ok. Who made out in this scenario?
The guy who wrote the piece had his meal, so he got what HE wanted
The restaurant made its money, so they got what THEY wanted.
The random man who wasn’t actually asking for money.
Who didn’t make out?
The server who was working hard for both his boss AND the ‘gentleman’ at his table.
This ‘experiment’ was just an exercise of the writer’s utter stupidity. To honestly (and accurately!) "explore Obama’s redistribution of wealth" idea; the writer, after finishing (his apparently $65 lunch, since he was going to tip $10), should have told the owner of the restaurant that he was going to give 3% of the bill’s total to the homeless guy out front instead (assuming the restaurant nets over $250K, right?) So, $65 for lunch = $1.95 to the not-actually-begging beggar....
I cannot, of course, speak for the owner of THAT restaurant, but if a customer of mine (especialy one that just spent that much for LUNCH) came up to me and said he was going to do this, I would smile pretty broadly and offer to match the contribution, or at least throw in a bowl of soup (since the customer’s always right, right?)
So: Business made out, wealthy people (I can’t tell you when was the last time I had a $65 meal, let alone lunch) weren’t effected, the poorest people got token assistance that WON’T help them in the long run, and the ‘working guy’ ended up paying for it.
Hand me $10 because you decided I ‘deserve’ it more than your waiter did, I’d think, "Wow, your waiter must have really done a BAD job!" and yes, I’d be appreciative of being the first person you saw, after surviving such a harrowing ordeal. Although.... it’s funny, but I must have missed the part where the waiter actually did anything wrong (other than wearing an apparently offensive-to-the-writer article of clothing, of course. How DARE he?!?!)
BTW: You DID notice that the homeless man wasn’t begging for cash, he was asking for support for a candidate he approved of. ‘Homeless’ doesn’t equal ‘undignified’.
It is my conclusion, however, that the writer should get a pass on that, since he obviously doesn’t know a heck of a lot about dignity.