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Father-daughter political talk....

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mtsteeze406
Posts: 447 - Karma: 11
Republican or 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 rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had t o be the truth and she indicated so to her father.

Her father 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.'
Apr 30 2008 12:38PM
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Static
Posts: 8545 - Karma: 4,132
Well why shouldn't she work hard to provide for her family? According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it costs a middle-income family $250,000 to raise a child from birth to age 17. In the first year alone, the costs of a baby can reach between $9,000 and $11,000. If she didn't have that much money why in the world would she get pregnant? If someone bought a car they couldn't afford it would be taken away, they wouldn't recive benifits from the government to help pay it off. Why should anyone but her(and the dad in the case of babies) be held accountable for her actions in life?
May 3 2008 9:58PM
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Ski1erman
Posts: 124 - Karma: 10
+1
May 3 2008 10:04PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
See i personally think that the government should have the ability to help that woman out. Yeah a lot of it depends on the circumstances and i realize that people like that shouldn't have kids, but lets be real its still gonna happen. And id rather see the government help them out then have that kid born into a below poverty life, and ending up fucked up or dead. But thats just my viewpoint.
May 3 2008 10:09PM
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Static
Posts: 8545 - Karma: 4,132
In order for the government to be able to help out they need money. It would be fine if they sold cupon books, or autographed photos of political figures to make money. But the reality is the governments money was actually my money. But, I get where you're comming from, it's totally not fair to the kids when their parents set them up for failure like that. How about this, once the kid is no longer an expense to the parents, they can begin repayment into the system, their pay checks are docked every week, and they arn't allowed to make any unneccesary purchases untill they've paid back what they used. A cycle where the people who need help get it, and once they don't they can help out the next set of people who do.
May 3 2008 10:18PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
Well in theory that happens currently. The mom receives welfare, the kid lives a decent life, grows up, gets a job, and starts paying taxes, that money goes back into the system. At the same time i think (and i realize this goes back to the other thread) that people making larger amounts of money should pay more into the system. They can afford it so why not? And this isn't coming from a middle class kid who it wouldn't effect, my family is basically in the upper 20% for income in the country, but i and my parents would have no problem with paying more into the system.
May 3 2008 10:34PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
they do pay more!  the more you make the more you pay! 

and if your family doesnt mind higher taxes, then write a bigger check!

you can send in any amount of money, the IRS will gladly take it.

no one is forcing you to keep the money, your parents worked for, they can send it extra if they want.


May 3 2008 10:46PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
seriously.  if you believe in a higher tax rate, do it voluntarily. 
May 3 2008 10:58PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i know but at the same time i think a lot of people could afford to do this, but don't want to, which just seems greedy to me.
May 3 2008 11:16PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019

I know, but all I'm saying is that the situation I described is much more common than many think. Yeah I agree, people should  not be using welfare programs as a crutch for the rest of their lives. I do believe that it's up to the person to get themselves out of their situation, but all I wanted to show is that nowadays its a whole lot harder to get oneself out of the situation, and that it means life or death for many.

May 3 2008 11:38PM
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