[MD] A modern allegory

[Platt Holden]

Hi All, 

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 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 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.'

Regards,
Platt