Since posting this story in 2013, the left simply won’t leave it alone. Something about it strikes a chord and they have to lash out at it, even though it’s a story.
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 will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A…. (substituting grades for dollars – something closer to home and more readily understood by all).
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.
To their great surprise, ALL FAILED 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.
These are possibly the 5 best sentences you’ll ever read on this experiment:
- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
- What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
- The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
- You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!.
- When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
What I am reading now is liberals, progressives or those that dismiss the STORY because it’s a scenario and not real. They can’t cope with the real truth that you can’t move poor people into prosperity by legislation from Washington, DC. Government doesn’t have the authority to take from Citizen A and give to Citizen B to make things even.
Why does something so simple and so logical fail to be understood by the leftists? It doesn't. They don't believe it anymore than we do. Self interest governs their belief and manifests itself in rewards for them.
ReplyDeleteBut... what happens when even the individual of median talent can no longer contribute economically the value of his own sustenance?
ReplyDeleteWhen half the population lacks the skills and talent to contribute more than it costs to feed, shelter, and clothe them?
That day may come. And it may come pretty soon - technology evolves faster than social custom or structure. In a couple generations "agriculture" went from employing almost everyone to almost no one. Manufacturing is going the same way.
Go to the options and futures pits in Chicago - commodity traders? Much depleted, replaced by computers. Ditto the specialists on the NYSE. Associate level lawyers reading cases and discovery materials - likewise. The professions will change - computers may not replace people but they will become indispensable for enhancing the productivity of the practitioners, such that one can do the work of ten, or hundreds, and do it better. Those that can thrive with new tech, and are rock stars, will win. Everyone else loses.
There are many decent ball players out there but very few that can earn a living at it. More professions will go that way.
You may not believe that technology is that advanced, but it's getting close. I'm convinced a good deal of the current unemployment is a product of technology obviating the need for labor. And it's only going to get worse (or better, depending on your perspective.)
This will be a challenge. I don't have an answer here but it's worth thinking about - the day when advanced production tech across so much of the economy becomes so productive that "pull your own weight becomes literally impossible for half the population - that will be a tipping point...
Here's what human beings do: they sort. End sorting and you end humanity. It just may be that economic production may cease to be a viable sorting signal for most of mankind.
Lewy, I'm not sure we'll get that point. Will we even have a government as we know it?
DeleteI think that man, when left to his own devices, is a master innovator and engineer. If the Republic crumbles, the sorting will leave the strong and clever, and erase the weak and useless. It won't be pretty.
If the gov't doesn't crumble, if the left seizes control and establishes a dictatorship, I don't believe they have the brains and the know-how, or the finesse, to steer the technological ship and remain at the top of the world's power structure.
Either way, stock food, ammo, supplies, and a bunch of something that you can trade for goods and services.
So I read lewy's comment and then I go on to read my weekly update of Canadian financial news and find this
DeleteThe basis of any number of dystopian science fiction stories. Seething masses living on government largesse, taught no skills, with no hope for improvement of theirs circumstances and with no purpose in life except to entertain themselves.
DeleteIt always ends badly
I don't think you will find many blacksmiths around or even icemen. Maybe computers will replace some jobs, but other jobs will come along for those who are ready and willing to prepare themselves.
ReplyDeleteI am so sick of the path the leftists insist of taking our country that I can no longer comment in a socially acceptable way.
ReplyDeleteLet 'er rip florrie! The heck with "socially acceptable". :)
DeleteI think I understand Florie's position...I am reaching a similar one myself. I have been very lax in blog comments and worse on email responses...e.g., I owe Florie one from months ago, and I think Lady Red as well. I will dump the funk eventually, but this administration is maddening...and the coverage by news, including right wing, is poor. Not one reporter has mentioned yet precisely why the administration all knew the truth about Benghazi...even though it is not a secret (it is in wiki) and has been in effect for over 40 years...in fact I have composed such messages myself for the OD in my place & time. Today is all lies all the time and it is becoming hard to sort things out.
DeleteTruth be told, I have not been happy about any administration since Reagan, of any ilk. This one is just the worst ever.
I have been very lax in blog comments and worse on email responses...e.g., I owe Florie one from months ago, and I think Lady Red as well.
DeleteThat is a relief..I was afraid you were just subtly giving me a hint not to email. Or not subtly ;-)