A young woman was finishing her first year of college. Like so many
others her age, she considered herself to be a liberal Democrat and was
for the fair redistribution of wealth. She felt deeply embarrassed that
her father was a life-long Republican, which she opposed openly.
One day
she was challenging her father on his beliefs, particularly his
opposition to higher taxes and more entitlement programs. In the middle
of her heartfelt diatribe, based upon lectures she had from her
left-wing professors at school, he stopped and asked her, point blank,
how she was doing in school.
She
answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that
it was tough to maintain. She had to study all the time, and rarely had
time to go out and party. She barely had time for a boyfriend, and
didn't really enjoy many college activities because of spending so much
time studying. In addition, she continued, she was taking a very
difficult curriculum.
Her
father listened and then asked, "How is your friend Mary?" She replied,
"Mary is just getting by." She continued, "She barely has a 2.0 GPA,"
adding, "and all she takes are very easy classes and she never
studies." Explaining further, she continued emotionally, "But Mary is
so very popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She goes to all
the parties, and very often doesn't even show up for classes because
she is hung over."
Her
father then asked his daughter, "Why don't you go down to the Dean's
office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your 4.0 GPA and give it to your
friend who only has a 2.0." He continued, "That way you will both have
a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair, equal distribution of
GPA."
The
daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired
back, "That wouldn't be fair! I worked really hard for my grades. I did
without, and Mary has done little or nothing. She played while I worked
real hard!"
"Welcome
to the Republican Party," her father said smiling.
.