Redistribution of wealth comment from 2001

[tsubaki]

Here***8217;s a creative approach to ***8220;redistribution of wealth***8221; as offered in a newspaper.


Today on my way to lunch, I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read: "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed. Inside the restaurant, my server had on an "Obama ***8216;08" tie. Again I laughed as he too had given away his political preference. Just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came, I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama ***8220;redistribution of wealth***8221; concept. He stood there in total disbelief as I explained to him that I was going to ***8220;redistribute***8221; his tip to someone whom I deemed more in need - the homeless guy I***8217;d passed outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10.00 and told him to thank the server inside as I'd decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.


At the end of my rather unscientific ***8220;redistribution***8221; experiment I realized that the homeless guy was grateful for the money he hadn***8217;t earned but the waiter was angry that I***8217;d given away the money he had earned, even though the actual recipient deserved money more.


I guess ***8220;redistribution of wealth***8221; is easier to swallow ***8220;in-concept***8221; than ***8220;in practicality.***8221;