Redistributing the Wealth In Action
October 31, 2008 by Jenn Sierra
Filed under News and Opinion
The following object lesson in wealth redistribution is from my blogger friend Lennie, of the satiricle blog, Obamastates of America.
The following was in the Voice of the People in Wednesdays Chicago Tribune. (Hat tip: A Chicago Blog)
On my way to lunch recently, I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read “Vote Obama; I need the money.” I laughed. In a restaurant my server had on an “Obama 08″ tie. Again I laughed. Just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came, I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Barack-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 deserved money more. I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.
After reading this, I think we should all put this into action. Every time you go out to a restaurant from now until the election, ask your server who they are supporting (after you are done with your meal). If they are supporting Obama tell them you are happy to hear that and you are glad they are so compassionate towards the less fortunate. Then tell then you are going to donate their tip to the next homeless person you see in their name so they can start redistributing the wealth even before the election. Not only will you affect their opinion, they will tell every other server in that restaurant. If they don’t like this redistribution of their wealth, then tell ask them to reconsider their vote for Obama. Remember, you many want to avoid that restaurant for a while after this personal object lesson.
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Dear Lennie, oh yes, I will and I loved this idea. Follow the logic and hey presto! The previously earnest advocate…de-advocates!
Colonel Neville. For satire of a high calibre too, and also NOT Left, try thepeoplescube com.
Yes– it’s a terrific “object lesson,” and boy are those waiters going to object. An alternative lesson I thought of might involve service at any of those monolithic megastores, anything from Costco to Barnes and Noble. After determining through conversation that a clerk who has given you his time and (putative) expertise on a given store item supported Obama, tell him that “Great– now I’m going to buy it, but at a smaller, less successful venue. This way I can help those less well-off than Home Depot (or whatever).” Of course this holds no logical consistency, the clerk being quite different from the owner of a superstore– but the point is made clearly.