An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before but had once failed an entire class.
That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism would work and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”. All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard and wanted an A were upset and the students who studied little were happy.
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied less.
The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great; but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Could it be any simpler than that?
Melissa Stover
October 23, 2009 at 7:33 pm (14 years ago)awesome example!
Someone Being Me
October 23, 2009 at 7:42 pm (14 years ago)That is hilarious. So simple yet so true.
Sharon
October 25, 2009 at 7:57 pm (14 years ago)Great example.
Norcross
October 26, 2009 at 7:10 am (14 years ago)Simple? Yes. Factually accurate? Not so much. What the professor outlined was communism, not socialism. Using the example above, here's how it would have gone (condensed):
Each student gives up 5% points off their test, regardless of grade. However, none of them have to pay for tuition, books, lab fees, or parking passes for school, as the 5% covers the cost of those for everyone. Tests are still scored on an individual basis, and there are A's and F's just as before. Only now, each student has the opportunity to attend class without the fear of not being able to afford it, or having to work 2 or 3 jobs to cover the cost at the expense of studying.
kilatista
October 26, 2009 at 6:40 pm (14 years ago)my first visit. feel free to visit our borneo socialist shack. warm workers struggle solidarity
Best Life
October 26, 2009 at 7:55 pm (14 years ago)I'm confused about what Norcross said. How is it that test points will pay for tuition? And will it be just the students' test points? Or do I, a non student, also have to give 5% toward the tuition to a school that teaches socialism and other principles that I disagree with?
And if they're not paying for their school, then how does the example from the post not apply? Why work hard at something that doesn't cost you anything and now, because it's free to everyone will very shortly have no value at all?
ThreadBeaur
October 30, 2009 at 9:33 pm (14 years ago)I really like the example. I think it is right on, and kudos to that professor for showing the students what could really happen.
When there are no incentives, everyone loses!