The Aftermath

Minister's Black Veil

Hawthorne is suggesting that even in the perfect world of Puritan New England there are people who have dark things to hide. Mr. Hooper wears the black veil over his face to hide his own image. When he sees his own image in the reflection of his glass of wine, Mr. Hooper drops his wine and runs into darkness. I believe that Hawthorne is saying that because of the high standards on people during this time period people began to worry about people finding out who they really are. I think times have not changed much. People today put up fronts to protect their inner self from being seen by the people around them. People today wear the same black veil that Mr. Hooper wore.

Redistribution of Wealth

Here is a creative approach to redistribution of 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 $4 and told him to thank
the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The
homeless guy was excited.

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 appeared to need the money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow
in concept than in practical application, as the Soviet Union
discovered.

OR IS IT.........REDISTRIBUTION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S WEALTH IS A
GREAT IDEA..............or just a fools game, and Obama's Plan
right out of his own mouth to 'Joe-the-plumber'

What caused the economic crisis?

Obamao

The Difference Between Republican and Democrat

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words, redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the ric h and the need for more government programs. The self-profess ed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, 'How is your friend Audrey doing?' She replied, 'Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'

Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.'

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to the Republican party.'

If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat I'm all ears.

A Tax Lesson

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for a beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like
this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.

The fifth would pay $1.

The sixth would pay $3.

The seventh would pay $7.

The eighth would pay $12.

The ninth would pay $18.

The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day
and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw
them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going
to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. 'Drinks for the ten now cost
just $80.The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes
so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But
what about! the other six men - the paying customers?

How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair
share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they
subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man
would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested
that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount,
and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).

The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).

The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).



Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to
drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare
their savings.


'I only got a dollar out of the $20,' declared the sixth man.

He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10! ''Yeah, that's right,'
exclaimed the fifth man.

'I only saved a dollar, too.. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!

''That's true!!' shouted the seventh man.

'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two?

The wealthy get all the breaks!

''Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!

'The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth
man (the richest) didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had
beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered
something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for
even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax
system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from
a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they
just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas
where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.



David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of Economics University of Georgia

Dwight's Spud Gun

My good ideas...

"Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty." ("Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emmerson.)

I find myself to be a perfect example of this quote. I always seem to find myself listening to a discussion and while listening developing my own ideas in my head. These ideas seem like they are the greatest ideas in the world, but I do not voice them. Many reasons come to my head when thinking about this. Am I afraid of being wrong, being criticized for what I have to say, or do I just don't trust myself that my ideas are right. For what ever reason it is, I do not say anything. I remain silent as to think being silent means I am safe from scrutiny, there in lies the true mistake that I make. Remaining silent is the more hostile position to take in an discussion. At least if I voice my opinion people will know what I believe or think. When I remain silent, the people around me do not know my opinion on the subject. This allows the other people to create ideas that they think is really my take on this subject. This is very dangerous because if they are wrong then I am thought of in a totally different manner then if they actually knew my opinion. I gain respect when i voice my opinion, but if I don't say anything I appear weak.

Anyone wondering how to declare bankruptcy?

Dwight Misses Jim

Dwight K. Schrute's Real Heroes

What is an American?

An American Is...