"The problem here is a totalitarian uniformity, a cult-like mentality such that even allies are enemies if they fail to follow the Exact Party Line. " - Phyllis Chesler

Monday, March 2, 2009

Stimulis Bill 101

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches
his economics professor
and says, "I don't understand this stimulus
bill. Can you explain it to me?"

The professor replied, "I don't have any time
to explain it at my office, but
if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me
with my weekend project,
I'll be glad to explain it to you." The
student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the
professor's house. The
professor stated that the weekend project involved his
backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor
handed the student a
bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the
professor said, "First, go
over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as
much water as you can." The
student did as he was instructed.

The professor then continued, "Follow me over to
the shallow end, and then
dump all the water from your bucket into it." The
student was naturally
confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do
this many more times, and
began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why
are we doing this?"

The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was
trying to make the shallow
end much deeper.

The student didn't think the economics professor
was serious, but figured that
he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end
and the deep end, the
student began to become worried that his economics
professor had gone mad.
The student finally replied, "All we're doing
is wasting valuable time and
effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this
process is all over,
everything will be at the same level it was before, so
all you'll really have
accomplished is the destruction of what could have
been truly productive
action!"

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a
smile, "Congratulations.
You now understand the stimulus bill."

Thanks to Tiffany for sending this to me.

7 comments:

Speedcat Hollydale said...

Pretty soon the bucket carrier will be out of a job anyway!!

You forgot to mention that the water is originally from China and they want it all back when the well is dry.

Anonymous said...

That is a brilliant way to explain it. Now it all makes sense, it's crazy, but now I get it.

CastoCreations said...

Freaking BRILLIANT!!!

Aleta said...

I'll be sharing this one with friends and family! Perfect!

chandrakant said...

What exactly in the stimulus bill are you comparing to the filling of the pool from the deep end to the shallow end? Explain please. It is very easy to say it will not work and that all of it is unproductive. Any concrete explanations as to why it will not have any effect or the effect will be disruptive to the already sub-par state of the economy?

Da Old Man said...

At last a logical explanation.

A New Yorker said...

@chandrakant I'm really not sure how any of us can help you. It seems you need remedial schooling. Summer school perhaps?