Bob McCarty Writes

Despite what Barack Obama has to say about it on the campaign trail, redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.  At least, that’s the conclusion most people reach after considering the scenario presented in an e-mail making the rounds recently.

Read the e-mail, which I took to the liberty of modifying just a bit, and see if you reach the same conclusion.  It goes something like this:

A businessman on his way to lunch passes a homeless guy on the sidewalk who’s holding a sign that reads, “Vote Obama, I need the money.”

The sign makes him laugh.

Upon arrival at his restaurant of choice, the businessman notices his server is wearing an “Obama 08″ tie.  Again, he laughs.

After enjoying great service and a fine meal, the businessman glances at the bill and then gives it, along with his credit card, back to the server.  A few moments later, the server returns to the man’s table and hands him the small leather binder containing the man’s credit card and a receipt for him to sign.

As he reached out to receive the binder, he made eye contact with the server and proceeded to inform the 20-something young man of his change in diner-server protocol:

“Instead of giving you the tip you deserve, I want to experience Barack Obama’s concept of redistributing wealth, so I’m going to give that $10 to someone more in need,” he explained.  “The homeless guy outside.”

Upon hearing that, the Obama tie-wearing server angrily stormed out of sight.

At the end of his rather unscientific redistribution experiment, the businessman realized three things:

1. The homeless guy was grateful for the money he had not earned;
2. The waiter was angry that the businessman had given away the money he had rightfully earned; and
3. Redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

So what do you think?  Is socialism for you?  Are you in favor of having the Democratic Party presidential nominee and his liberal cronies in Congress put in charge of redistributing your wealth?  Vote wisely Nov. 4.

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UPDATE 10/28/08 1:42 p.m. — Rush Limbaugh mentioned the same viral e-mail on his show today.