"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." -- unknown

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results - Albert Einstein

A musing.. of sorts
October 30, 2008 - 9:24 pm

As it happens, the waiter is wearing an Obama shirt. As the eat, the couple agrees both the food and service has been great. When the check is presented, a little quick math shows the tip should be six dollars.

Before handing payment to the waiter, the couple asks, "If you don't mind our asking, but by your shirt... you're going to be voting for Obama?"

The waiter, aware political conversations aren't always wise simply says, "I am."

The couple says, "We thought so, so we had an idea we're sure you'll support 100%."

There's a brief pause as the waiter looks decidedly confused.

The couple continues, "It happens on our way here from across the street... we went past a homeless man panhandling. You don't need to thank us, but on our way out we are going to redistribute the wealth of what should be your six dollar tip to that homeless man."

The waiter is flummoxed and too dumbfounded to say much of anything coherent as he's handed the bill with exact change. He fumes as he watches the couple cross the street and hand the semi-sleeping panhandler the six dollar tip.

The couple says, "Here you go. You should really stop by across the street and thank the waiter -- without his good service tonight... we wouldn't feel the need to give his tip to someone who needs it more."

The above is paraphrased and not as well written as the original I read the other day... but the point is there.

I do cringe at the nothing of moving wealth around -- of giving what amounts to a penalty to those who have done well.

It's rather like.. people will idly say, "Wouldn't it be grand if we were all millionaires?"

It wouldn't change a thing. Items would simply cost more. The notion that we'd all be rich and driving top notch cards with a yacht in the local marina is utterly laughable. Until there's a fundamental change in human nature... there will always a basic human drive for greed, power.. and to not only have what someone else has, but to flaunt what you have to someone who doesn't have it.

You may frown at those words and say you're not like - fine. You aren't. However, you're only 1 of some six plus billion people and I speak of the broader human nature. Individual people are made of all types... and, pretty much by definition, generalities don't apply to whatever individual exception you care to name.

I suppose it's the ultimate version of lip service. People will say everyone should be wealthy, but deep down.. they don't really mean it. In order to be wealthy you need someone unwealthy to measure yourself against.. otherwise everyone is just middle income.