Suppose that every day, ten people go out for 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 (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 (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten 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 were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get their "fair share"?
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everyone's share, then the fifth and the sixth would each end up being paid to drink their beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each drinker's bill by roughly the same
amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:
The fifth person, 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 drinkers began to
compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth. She pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!" "Yes, that's right," exclaimed the fifth. I only saved a dollar too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I did" "That's true!!" shouted the seventh. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks" "Wait a minute," yelled the first four in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor"
The nine drinkers surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man 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, ladies and gentlemen, 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!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
BAR ROOM ECONOMICS - HOW THE TAX SYSTEM WORKS
It wasn't really my intention to make this a "Political Jokes" blog, but considering the season, it is kinda hard to resist some of these. Here is one that I really like...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Pollyticks
Received as an email...
I was talking to a friend of mine's little girl, and she said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'
She replied, 'I'd give houses to all the homeless people.'
'Wow... what a worthy goal.' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new house.'
She thought that over for a few seconds while her Mom glared at me, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?'
And I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.' Her folks still aren't talking to me...
I was talking to a friend of mine's little girl, and she said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, 'If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?'
She replied, 'I'd give houses to all the homeless people.'
'Wow... what a worthy goal.' I told her, 'You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new house.'
She thought that over for a few seconds while her Mom glared at me, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, 'Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?'
And I said, 'Welcome to the Republican Party.' Her folks still aren't talking to me...
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. version 2.0
When I set up this blog, it was my intention that it would be less technical and more about people, relationships and the "softer" side of business. It didn't take long before I felt the need to communicate topics that weren't necessarily appropriate for this venue.
Announcing the birth of Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. version 2.0 . There I will blog the trials and tribulations of a business owner trying to re-invent his business in the midst of a rather tough economy. Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a sole proprietor company. It incorporated in 1999 and hired its first employee the same year. Since that time there have been some minor ups and downs, but for the most part a WHOLE LOT of sideways. Follow along as the company attempts to do a "Total Make-Over!"
Our friends at PartnerPoint are launching a new customer facing portal and they have asked us to post a banner, so here it is...
Announcing the birth of Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. version 2.0 . There I will blog the trials and tribulations of a business owner trying to re-invent his business in the midst of a rather tough economy. Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a sole proprietor company. It incorporated in 1999 and hired its first employee the same year. Since that time there have been some minor ups and downs, but for the most part a WHOLE LOT of sideways. Follow along as the company attempts to do a "Total Make-Over!"
Our friends at PartnerPoint are launching a new customer facing portal and they have asked us to post a banner, so here it is...
A Proud Member Of |
Monday, September 1, 2008
Success... Recommended Reading
My last posting considered the value of goal setting in the pursuit of Success. Today we will step back and discuss a basic building block for attaining knowledge. That knowledge can then be a contributing factor in attaining Success.
It is often said that "Knowledge is Power." One way to obtain knowledge is to read. People read for a variety of reasons. I for one don't like to read. I read out of necessity. Having said that, nearly everything I read serves a purpose, it addresses a need. So if I am currently experiencing a need to become more successful, what should I read? I'll share with you a few books that I am reading, have just read or more importantly, re-read.
One of my fellow HTG13 members, Karl Palachuk has recently written a book called Relax Focus Succeed: A Guide To Balancing Your Personal and Professional Lives and Being More Successful in Both. I am about half-way through it. So far, I have found it to be a very interesting read. I have known Karl (through his public presence) for a number of years. I have seen him in action at a number of technical events. However, we were just formally introduced and officially became colleagues in July. It will be interesting for me, once I finish the book to see if Karl can "Walk the Walk..." That will be the true test of the value of this book. I'll keep you posted.
The book that I most recently finished is called The Go-Giver. For those of you who like me, don't really enjoy reading, this is an easy reading book that shouldn't take you too much time or effort to read. The book was oddly enough, given to me by Arlin Sorensen. Arlin and his wife Nancy graciously hosted an event on their family farm that featured teaching on this simple little book. You can read about it here. If you look closely, you might even find reference to "yours truly."
I am still amazed every time I meet someone in business (SMB) who has not read The E-Myth Revisited. If you have not read this book, buy it. Buy 5. Trust me, once you read the book, you will want to give it to friends and associates. It is THAT good. I bought the paperback originally back in 2005 and I recently purchased the audio book so that I could "learn it" all over again.
No discussion about books, knowledge and power would be complete without explicit mention of the Bible. There is simply no book that contains more TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE and POWER than the Bible. If you were only allowed to read one book the rest of your life, that is the only one that you need. Oh, BTW, there are plenty of tips for Success, contained in its pages as well.
It is often said that "Knowledge is Power." One way to obtain knowledge is to read. People read for a variety of reasons. I for one don't like to read. I read out of necessity. Having said that, nearly everything I read serves a purpose, it addresses a need. So if I am currently experiencing a need to become more successful, what should I read? I'll share with you a few books that I am reading, have just read or more importantly, re-read.
One of my fellow HTG13 members, Karl Palachuk has recently written a book called Relax Focus Succeed: A Guide To Balancing Your Personal and Professional Lives and Being More Successful in Both. I am about half-way through it. So far, I have found it to be a very interesting read. I have known Karl (through his public presence) for a number of years. I have seen him in action at a number of technical events. However, we were just formally introduced and officially became colleagues in July. It will be interesting for me, once I finish the book to see if Karl can "Walk the Walk..." That will be the true test of the value of this book. I'll keep you posted.
The book that I most recently finished is called The Go-Giver. For those of you who like me, don't really enjoy reading, this is an easy reading book that shouldn't take you too much time or effort to read. The book was oddly enough, given to me by Arlin Sorensen. Arlin and his wife Nancy graciously hosted an event on their family farm that featured teaching on this simple little book. You can read about it here. If you look closely, you might even find reference to "yours truly."
I am still amazed every time I meet someone in business (SMB) who has not read The E-Myth Revisited. If you have not read this book, buy it. Buy 5. Trust me, once you read the book, you will want to give it to friends and associates. It is THAT good. I bought the paperback originally back in 2005 and I recently purchased the audio book so that I could "learn it" all over again.
No discussion about books, knowledge and power would be complete without explicit mention of the Bible. There is simply no book that contains more TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE and POWER than the Bible. If you were only allowed to read one book the rest of your life, that is the only one that you need. Oh, BTW, there are plenty of tips for Success, contained in its pages as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
