That was just stupid.

Your implication that Obama would re-distribute money (arguable in itself) from a poor college student waiting tables is so simple-minded it makes me cringe.

You were just spiteful there.

Posted by: A Axe at October 27, 2008 01:01 PM

Great post. Deserves to go viral. http://search.twitter.com/search?q=waiter+obama+tip

Posted by: Robert Stevens at October 27, 2008 01:03 PM

I bet the kid just didn't get it. Too bad he can vote.

Posted by: Tickleddragon at October 27, 2008 01:12 PM

Wow. You stiffed a college kid on his tip.

You're such a tough man. A True Conservative, through and through.

Posted by: former conservative at October 27, 2008 02:17 PM

I hope you've sent this to the McCain campaign. It is a terrific illustration of Obamanomics.

Thanks for making my day!

Posted by: John Vota at October 27, 2008 07:57 PM

This author deserves a nobel peace prize pulitzer and any other well thought of award for best example of common sense

Posted by: at October 27, 2008 08:14 PM

Greatest Obama lession I have seem. I wish all could see this - great economics lesson.

David Thoms

Posted by: David Thoms at October 27, 2008 09:23 PM

You proved socialists are such phonies. I hope I have such a golden opportunity to be a practicing "socialist" just to convert a useful idiot to reality. They are so generous with other peoples' hard earned money aren't they?

Posted by: Hank Fiorini at October 27, 2008 09:30 PM

GREAT ARTICLE! So good to know that there's a journalist out there that can write an accurate, witty, and poignant story! Good job!!

Posted by: Denne Volts at October 27, 2008 10:27 PM

This is how to defeat socialism short of Civil War 2 (people always listen when they are staring down the barrel of a gun).

If its better to be on welfare, then I say we all quit our jobs and go on welfare. Every single American who is unemployed or who has lost their job recently needs to apply for welfare and then see how well they like it. With Obama promising more rewards for laziness, lets all do it!!!!!

Posted by: Stan Tarrant at October 27, 2008 10:44 PM

Thank you very much for the article, spot on! I'm tired of people talking out of both sides of their mouths. The liberal kid obviously realized that proportion is more important than scale. It could be ten dollars or ten thousand dollars, it's still someone else's money, and it stings when people make rules so that they can take it from you.

Posted by: Nathan at October 27, 2008 11:16 PM

Hey numbnuts, do you even know what you are talking about ? OK, so the homeless man's sign was wrong, but you are just as wrong.
Obama is talking about TAX CUTS, not taking money away from one and giving to another.
To be taxed means you have to be earning an income.
This homeless person in your story does not earn an income, and therefore not eligible for a tax cut.
His only money would be from donations, possibly a pension (war, age, disability, etc), and caring charity people like church groups, etc.

Please understand the facts of Obama's TAX plan before posting ridiculous misinformation.

Posted by: at October 27, 2008 11:33 PM

Obama’s tongue can’t seem to hide his political ideologies, at least until the election is over.

Posted by: andrew at October 28, 2008 12:04 AM

You're a nut!

Posted by: Barry Sotoro at October 28, 2008 02:20 AM

At first I believed this to be true. The part at the end about quitting the business seems a little far-fetched.
It would be nice to actually do that though.

Posted by: jerry t. searcy at October 28, 2008 02:32 AM

I would only add the following to this sterling analysis: don't punish your staff; reward them for their hard work. In addition, inform the staff members of the various non-profits about your redistributing of profits to your own staff.what you are going to do. Most non-profit staffs and board members are like the waiter - very generous with other peoples' money.

Posted by: at October 28, 2008 05:56 AM

You just don't get it, do you. The idea is not that you should make decisions about who to redistribute wealth to. The important thing is for the special ones to decide how to distribute your money.

It sounds like you are a reasonably competent person who runs a business, supports your family, etc. Nevertheless, you do not have that special sensitivity that is needed to redistribute wealth. Only the special ones have that. You also did not graduate from Harvard or Yale and did not get a law degree, and you did not have the wisdom to either become a member of the professoriate or get a good government job, so you probably are not smart enough!

Posted by: Scotch Indian at October 28, 2008 06:17 AM

Brilliant! I loved this article! The hammer that these Obama-loving-leftist seek to weild against the righteous will be used to crush their own heads.
Jason Abbott, Chesapeake, Virgina

Posted by: Jason at October 28, 2008 09:04 AM

So instead of acting like an adult and a decent, mature christian person, you decided you would much rather try to score a cheap, political point, deprive a student of much needed money that many restaurants consider to be part of the staff's wages and, in addition to that, instead of donating your $10 to a charity for the homeless or a soup kitchen, where it could some good, you decided to give it straight to a homeless person who immediately used it to by drink. In othere words your thoughtless, deplorable actions simply led to reinforcing somebody's alcohol and dependancy problems. Your own actions have shown you to be a small minded and mean-spirited individual and, as a Christian, I beleive your own actions condemn you as one who has fallen from the path of Salvation.

Posted by: Bob at October 28, 2008 09:37 AM

Well, said. I think that I too will practice wealth redistribution from now until election day...it is the least I can do to further the cause of Hope and Change.
I think maybe I'll call my effort: "change for Change."

Posted by: Kendra at October 28, 2008 11:08 AM

Excellent article. While demonstrating several of the shortfalls from Obama's financial plans, you also demonstrated the immaturity and hypocrisy of the liberal mindset.

I have often noticed that liberals are generally less intelligent then conservatives, but hide their ignorance well, using a facade of imagined sophistication.

Posted by: Charles Root at October 28, 2008 11:44 AM

Someone mentioned to me that this "experiment" doesn't work. The typical waitress is middle class/working class. The typical homeless guy is lower class. The waitresses taxes do not go up under Barack Obama's tax plan, so "redistributing" the waitress's tip to the homeless guy is is not a valid analogy.

Posted by: ADC at October 28, 2008 12:54 PM

beautiful example. Although, I think I still would have left the waiter a few dollars or gone back and told him that the $10 you redistributed was then responsibly put into economic stimulus via the liquor store. Then ask him to at least think about today's lesson a little deeper, and then give him his tip, reminding him that hard work is much more deserving of reward than refusing to contribute to society and asking for a handout.

Posted by: at October 28, 2008 01:19 PM

AMEN TO THAT!!!!! Rene

Posted by: Lujuana Gillett at October 28, 2008 02:34 PM

It's amazing how many libs want to give up my money but become quite the conservative when the government wants to get into their pockets. I too plan on joining the "Great American Slowdown". I don't have to work as much as I do and I'll be damned if I will work more to pay higher taxes.

Posted by: Chris Orrell at October 28, 2008 03:07 PM

Brilliant thinking on your feet strategy and tactical lessons to teach execution, Lee. I admire your moxy and lively raconteur.

The sad man down on his luck won't remember the waiter due to his alcohol-induced altered mental state. The student-waiter will never forget his in vivo personal micro-economic case study.

Posted by: Ben at October 28, 2008 03:26 PM

It sure is amazing how people believe in redistibution of wealth UNTIL that wealth is their own!

The problem with all "tax the rich" movements throughout history is that they never clearly define "rich" and that the definition is continually lowered until it includes all but the very poor.

Obama and Biden have continually lowered their definition from $250,000 a few months ago to $200,000 (Obama-two days ago); and now $150,000 (Biden--yesterday!).

Like Bill Clinton who ran on a platform of a tax cut for the middle class--promptly changing to a tax increase once in office, I expect Obama to do the same.

Posted by: Walter D at October 28, 2008 03:29 PM

I love it! Great piece. If you don't mind I'm going to use this method in the future if BO wins this election

Posted by: nancy m at October 28, 2008 04:02 PM

I found this a great article. When the consequences apply to themselves and not to "others", then it all sounds good. These guys forget that they are not the ones choosing but the ones being chosen as being "priviledged" by the rotten scoundrels who are actually priviledged or criminal behaviour....... %^$# vote all these rotten criminal so called representatives OUT !!!!

Posted by: John at October 28, 2008 04:27 PM

I'm no Obama fan, but what did this exercise prove other than the fact that you're an insecure, lousy tipper who only takes out his political frustrations on the people who have no recourse?

I mean, you could have told the kid before he started serving you that you were going to "redistribute" his tip. Then you would have given you terrible service and you could have used this as an opportunity to explain that capitalism works because money is an incentive to keep working. But no, that would have ruined your lunch service and not given you an excuse to brag on the internet about how you can totally put college students in their place.

Perhaps you could have explained to this kid that higher taxes could spell less non-skilled jobs, and that voting Obama could lead to his own unemployment. You could have just had a conversation with him and tried to explain where you think Obama's economic policy is lacking. But no, instead you felt like wasting some kid's time and making sure he didn't get paid for it.

I hope you feel good about yourself. You just screwed a kid out of money that he earned. Jackass.

Posted by: P. Bingo Sherlock at October 28, 2008 05:16 PM

I must comment on the actions of this man. He made a very credible point. Most of the Obama supporters are young,affluent,and too far removed to grasp what will occur under an Obama administration. Others are voting purely by race,and the rest are the working poor who are heding a big wager on BIG rhetoric. They simply want to believe. I've noticed one thing about Obama,he seldom acknowledges the Lord-think about it....Now, getting back to the man in the resturaunt..He is typical of many middle class men who had a dream,and the intellegence to create a business. He most likely would hire college grads over capable people who had some college,but couldn't afford to finish,or had to drop out for personal reasons.I understand,I'd hire college grads too,so he shouldn't feel guilty. At the same time,you have many people out here who are forced into low wage jobs. He should have given the homeless man 10 dollars,not to illustrate a point,but because that's what his heart told him to do,and tipped the waiter double because that waiter is doing what he has to do because Mr. Patron probably wouldn't hire him without a degree. Just remember, Obama will win because he projects an image of a leader who cares about that waiter who got stiffed for a tip. Mr. Patron, if you can afford to sell your business,and retire,do so...Someone else will come along and hire the waiter.

Posted by: Mike Flynn at October 28, 2008 05:45 PM

Dear Lee, Don't give up so easily, the men who founded this country would definetly not give up and neither should you.We are surrounded by misplaced loyalty and just plain ignorance in many circles but as in the past there is time to correct these problems. The oppurtunity for a person to stand up and lead our country has never been so great. A simple and common-sense person that is not afraid to be unpopular, not afraid to be a leader, not afraid to say the right words, not afraid to be politically incorrect all the time! History has shown that great leaders come from difficult times, be patient that person will step up and all we have to do is regonize it when it happens. Dave

Posted by: David B. Hartnett at October 28, 2008 06:02 PM

Ok, lets see if you can print this,here goes nothing, commenting on a fellow human being's ignorance serves no worldly purpose. It only creates another target for the wrath of another "might makes right winger" whose depth of understanding of the truth of American Politics wouldn't drown a gnat. Lee Atwater's understanding of these folk's tinker thinkers produced a lexicon that almost seems to be hard wired into their grey matter. It's unfortunate that seemingly intelligent educated "professional" folks definitions of words come not from any in print dictionary but from the "dumb them down" spin doctors whose clay feet they find at their lip level. "kiss, kiss"

Tsk, tsk, It's really unfortunate that we can't create some kind of a redistribution of intellect. Perhaps then these spewers of their masters propaganda would awaken from their slumber, wipe the crust from their eyes and help resurrect America from the failure it is fast becoming.

Posted by: Philip Beyer Wood at October 28, 2008 06:08 PM

Lee, my good man. You did that young man a great service by SHOWING him theory in motion. I hope that he understood the deeper meaning of your actions and didn't just lament over the $10. Good on you.

Posted by: Chris at October 28, 2008 06:38 PM

The thing no one talks about in the redistribution of wealth process is the fact that in order to be redistributed the wealth must first be confiscated.

Posted by: Gary Johnson at October 28, 2008 07:15 PM

This is one of the better editorials I have read in a long time. Great job Lee Walton!

Posted by: at October 28, 2008 07:27 PM

PEOPLE VOTING FOR OBAMA SHOULD
ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THIS,
IT MAKES SENSE TO ME............ HEY,
MAYBE I'M CHANGING TO AN OBAMA
SUPPORTING LIBERAL ????????????
I LOVE IT........IN FACT I THINK
I'LL HEED "LEE WALTEN'S" ADVICE.

Posted by: Chuck at October 28, 2008 07:27 PM

AWESOME!!!

Posted by: Big Mike Lewis at October 28, 2008 07:57 PM

Excellent and in the spirit of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand!
Thank you.

Just in case you haven't read the book, you will never forget the lessons of socialism from this mind- blowing novel.

Posted by: Della at October 28, 2008 08:10 PM

Wow! How true it is. I am amazed at the people who do not get it. Do they really not see that this is exactly what Obama is talking about?

Posted by: Lisa at October 28, 2008 08:47 PM

Well said. The waiter story is a great example. You might have added however say if the homeless man had robbed the waiter that Obama would like to also socialize our Supreme Court with members who have "empathy" for the poor.

Posted by: s at October 28, 2008 08:58 PM

After spending nine years in Navy Intelligence as a Cryptologist, intercepting communications from Marxist/Socialist countries, breaking their codes, and gathering intelligence in "other" ways. I am familiar with their methods of using the media for propangada, using the educational system to indoctrinate young minds, using the judicial system, and voter fraud to steal elections.
This is what is happening now in america.

From everything I have researched in the last two years, has lead me to conclude that Obama was selected, tutored, groomed, scripted, and financed by Radical Marxist/Socialists to become the puppet leader of the USSA.

There is a vast difference between Social Democrats and Radical Marxist/Socialists. Hillary Clinton is a Social Democrat. Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Dodd, Schumer, Durbin, Franks,Boxer, and a few others now in Congress are Radical Marxist/Socialists.

On my website: [valsword.spaces.live.com] I have a 16 minute video of an interview with Yure Bezmenov a KGB agent who defected in 1970. This interview was recorded 24 years ago,
and the transcript highlights, in Yuri's own words confirm what I mentioned in the first paragraph.

I pray that I am wrong, but from everything I have researched, I believe Obama, with a Reid Pelosi led Congress, with a radical judicial system will pull a Hugo Chavez.

In a recent address to his subjects, carried by fiat on all of the nation’s television channels, Venezuela’s authoritarian president Hugo Chávez Frias, who has previously taken over the airways for the celebration of his own birthday, now turned his country’s attention to more urgent matters. The time had come, he explained, to move the “Bolivarian revolution” from its Lenin-like beginnings of transitional capitalism towards a more robust command economy. The nation had at last “broken the chains of the old, exploitative capitalist system,” he said. “The state now has the obligation to build the model of a socialist economy.”
The next stage of the socialist revolution will require making thirty-three separate amendments to the Venezuelan constitution—a document Chávez previously rewrote upon his ascension to Miraflores Palace in 1999. The most dramatic and controversial change will eliminate presidential term limits, ensuring the fulfillment of Chavez’s promise not to leave office until 2021. To Hugo Chávez, a permanent revolution requires that he wield permanent power. It’s a risky move, considering recent opinion polls showing a majority of Venezuelans skeptical to further constitutional “reform,” especially if it means the possibility of adopting a President Chávez for life. But the same public, polling data demonstrates, also opposed the government’s refusal to renew a broadcast license for RCTV, the country’s oldest and most anti-Chávez private television network, and that storm seems to have passed.

Posted by: Marion Valentine at October 28, 2008 09:00 PM

I adore this story. How utterly perfect. It's hard for one to envision the truth until you experience it first hand. I applaud you Sir.

Posted by: Cindy at October 28, 2008 09:23 PM

Once again, Republicans don't tip. Please, help us all and place your registered gun in your mouth and PULL

Posted by: tenn2penn at October 28, 2008 10:06 PM

Good read. You should give it to McCain as he needs good advice. His people need help. Too bad you didn't film it.

Posted by: Norma at October 28, 2008 10:17 PM

Michael
How about naming the new party the common sense party.
Thanks for being you and helping me stay informed.
Joe

Posted by: Joe Miller at October 28, 2008 10:49 PM

Well said and demonstrated, I wish you well, I hope your 401k or IRA is well protected. Mine is not "comrade".

Posted by: at October 28, 2008 10:56 PM

so...you stiffed a waiter to make a point that no one else agrees with...

um...well done?

you also proved to the Internet that you have no idea what socialism is, yet feel an odd compulsion to share your ignorance publicly...

hey, conservapedia linked to you! LOL

Posted by: anthony k at October 28, 2008 11:43 PM

LOL Great analogy! Now here's one for you palin and simple.

Under the McBush give to the rich tax plan, this scenario would play out more like this.
The poor man asks for some help, so you take his coat give it to the waiter and tell him that the waiter will piss on him to keep him warm. Then you explain that this is called trickle down economics. It failed under Reagan, it failed under Bush, and it will fail miserably if you are stupid enough to buy it again under mcsame.

Posted by: at October 29, 2008 12:03 AM

What a wonderfully refreshing article! I have called all manner of people to read and print off copies of this fantastic story. Hats off to this incredibly, inventive writer who wrote such a practically applicable, albeit depressingly true presentation of the marxist redistribution of wealth, if Obama Bin Biden wins this election!!!

Posted by: at October 29, 2008 12:48 AM

Bravo! I'm beginning to see the light! Why beat my head in the wall when I can quit my business endeavors and live on Obama's gravy train? Who needs the stress? I'm 48, and ready to play golf any way.

Posted by: at October 29, 2008 12:53 AM

Way to get to the heart of it. Makes it simple and funny too!

Posted by: Isaiah at October 29, 2008 01:50 AM

I think a lot of stories like lee's will occur until the democrat party has completely lost power. I will laugh at al the sad closet capitalists who hate America and love the O mighty. I only earn 20k per year yet I know I don't want Alinsky in power if I would survive.

Posted by: Albert de la Cruz at October 29, 2008 02:31 AM

"a rising tide lifts all boats" is the democrat's version of the republican's "trickle down economy" (as described in the billy joel song where the waitress is practicing politics and the business men slowly get stoned).

when you boil away the rhetoric they both amount to the same thing. they are also both practiced in the same world, where you can go to the same cafe with the same server working for tips and the same hobo sitting outside the door.

what i find fascinating is the idea that the bum didn't "earn" his money. studies show full time panhandlers work approximately 8 to 10 hours a day and earn about current minimum wage (longitudinal studies show the panhandler's earning rate increases as minimum wage increase and is consistent with sate wage variations). since bums don't have to pay tax and are eligible for free health care (regardless of the party in office) one could argue an average bum might do better than an average cafe server.

don't tell the guy in the story............he might take the $10 from the bum and give it back to his waiter. then the bum will knife him and he will find out how little his HMO really covers of his hospital stay, he won't be able to go back to work because of the complications from the shoddy medical care, then he looses his house and he ends up on the corner next to the bum.

Posted by: homeless joe at October 29, 2008 02:53 AM

Thank you Dr. Savage for your voice we need to be heard before we live in the united states of soviet union

Posted by: Joe the aircraft mechanic at October 29, 2008 06:26 AM

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Posted by: Verneal Maze at October 29, 2008 07:01 AM

Anyone know of any prosperous capitalist countries I can move to in order to escape the well-meaning-but-clueless socialist revolution of 2009?

Posted by: Don Capps at October 29, 2008 07:42 AM

Fantastic real world analogy. This people that all believe they will recieve something for nothing, must realize someone has to pay for it!!! Being Cuban born, it saddens me to see America's sorry state of affairs; going so far as to believe that Socialism is the answer. Obama is a despicable individual for trying to usher this change in, but in order to happen there has to be support from usefull idiots who do not comprehend history. I love the USA and want it to prosper so that everyone can prosper, but it cannot be done with Obama, more government or more programs. This change must be taken on by it's people not it's politicians.

Posted by: Ayin R. Valdes CEO at October 29, 2008 08:48 AM

That is one of the best things that I have heard! These liberals believe that this kind of change is what we in this country need. But they could not be further from the truth. This kind of change to socialism is exactly how they are going to destroy this country from the inside out! I feel that this is exactly what Obama intends to do! He cannot be trusted....how can we stand by and watch if he is to be sworn in as President as he swears to uphold the constitution when he is only thinking about destroying it!

Posted by: Adam Castle at October 29, 2008 09:20 AM

Wow. I loved your action and your story. It really captures a complex concept in simple black and white terms.

Thank you
David C.

Posted by: David Chimento at October 29, 2008 10:35 AM

Extremely funny!! I would love to send this to an old professor of mine. I also believe he wants his wealth re-distributed to the the more needy.

Posted by: Alan at October 29, 2008 10:38 AM

only someone who has money would 1)write this article and 2)enjoy it.

Posted by: jwright at October 29, 2008 12:24 PM

only someone who has always had money would 1)write this article and/or 2)enjoy it. not everyone who needs a helping hand is lazy. get real.

Posted by: jwright at October 29, 2008 12:26 PM

Lee,

Since you just practiced Obama socialism, while don't you practice a bit of Bush capitalism.

Do this for 8 years, every single day:

Buy, on credit, from your company, a limousine, and a driver. Hire an escort from the days petty cash. Go to only the most expensive 5 star restraunt, paying everything thing on a corporate credit card. Take the escort to a 5 star hotel, where you rent the top suite, using the corporate credit card.

When the company goes bankrupt because of the unpaid loans, fire everyone, and then get a government bailout.

I personally would enjoy the Bush way, rather than Obama.

Posted by: Fewlesh at October 29, 2008 01:53 PM

Lee let me understand your moral standards: its okay to cheat the guy who works for you if they don't agree with your choice for office. I hope you staff have been informed who they have to vote for so you'll to pay them. OMG could you imagine if one had enough backbone to wear an Obama Button into your office. No pay for them that week. Your a sad evil person how many more did you cheat to get your business running? You should sell your business and move to China. Then you can control not only who your workers vote for but what your workers think too. Why don't you name your company so we can give you some business and of course if I don't share your world view I'll stiff you on the check and send it to McSame And Gov power-abuser. Oh that would take backbone like letting the waiter know before he severed you your going to stiff him on the tip and your clearly are a coward.

I'm sure Lee was okay with the way Bush & McCain redistributed wealth from the middle class to the top 5%. I'm also sure he thinks its great Sara gives all Alaskans a check whether they worked or not (Gee isn't that socialism?) Hey Lee is getting a tax cut is redistribution of wealth? Isn't that what Reagan did? Isn't that what Bush did? Of course Lee has a conveniently short memory about that. Lets see the GOP mantra is Tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations is good, but tax cuts to Americans making below $250K is redistribution of wealth and socialism. Step away from the Kool-Aid Lee, and sell you business to a good person. Someone with morals which you clearly lack.

Posted by: Leo at October 29, 2008 02:52 PM

I could never understand why the candidates don’t redistribute their millions of dollars from their own personal bank accounts. No, they want the poor or so called middle class to contribute their money from the few hundred dollars (if they have that much in the bank) they have saved, to the candidate who has several millions of dollars in their own personal bank account. They want the low and middle class people to give, give and give more and more of not only their money, but their time, to the candidate in hopes the candidate will provide them with a better way of life. These poor people just don’t get it, they are being taken by some person whom they didn’t even know a couple of months before, but now they give their hard earned money blindly thinking somehow they will get something in return from this person they really don’t even know. In reality what they will get in return is; higher taxes on the minimal wage there getting, so the illegal’s can come across the border and use our hospitals for free to have baby that becomes a natural born US Citizen to whom we will keep paying his medical bills forever because the mother was under nourished and so the baby is born with an illness that will cost the taxpayers millions more to raise the baby the parents who had to stay because their baby is a US Citizen. This, “my friend” is the real redistribution of your wealth, to foreigners that come into this county illegally and the far left liberals who want to continue to give, give and then give more of our tax dollars (i.e. not money from their personal million dollar bank accounts) from our small and smaller bank accounts.

Posted by: Frank Richardson at October 29, 2008 03:33 PM

I might vaguely find this stunt compelling as opposed to merely boorish if Mr Walton had proposed to pay his waiter over $250K as a tip but gave $0.03 of every dollar over $250K to the homeless dude, but as is he's shown himself to be not-so-secretly cruel, intellectually dishonest and ill-mannered.

Posted by: M. White at October 29, 2008 05:33 PM

you are being willfully obtuse and completely disingenuous if you don't point to McCain's own support of a progressive tax plan, not so very long ago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2JPbQOHEkY&eurl=http://www.thebeautifulheresy.com/2008/10/john-mccain-on-progressive-socialistic.html?showComment=1225130640000).

I also have to wonder if you supported the Bush admin, the last in a long line who has perverted the notion of "conservatism", left us with insurmountable debt and did their damndest to besmirch what little reputation we did have on the world stage.

The GOP is going to have to burn it down and start over.

--a very dissapointed life-long Republican

Posted by: a very dissapointed life-long Republican at October 29, 2008 05:39 PM

Wait the editor's in San Francisco! I think he might be a socialist too! BURN HIM!

Posted by: theredistributerinchef at October 29, 2008 05:40 PM

Please do recall that Clinton promised a tax cut to all making 200,000 or less. Within THREE months of being in the office, it changed to less than 20,000. And he said, 'I didn't say that, the media said that'.

Posted by: Patty at October 29, 2008 07:43 PM

Great demonstration on what will happen if Obama is elected. Unfortunately the college student (waiter) will not understand it and still vote for Obama. Doesn't say much for our colleges.

Posted by: at October 30, 2008 12:14 AM

Obama redistributing wealth from a college student to a homeless man is not the point expletive! The point is the Obama supporter was upset when his earned money was taken away from him. This is probably the conclusion he will more and more appreciate as he begins to earn his real paychecks.

Posted by: Joseph at October 30, 2008 03:33 AM

This article doesn't prove anything. this is not at all what Obama is doing. Obama isn't giving anybody money he is cutting taxes for people who are already making a wage unlike a homeless person. He is making it so some people don't have to pay as much money to the government as they would which is what a tax cut is.this is pretty obvious to mostly everyone. he isn't directly giving money to anyone like u did to the homeless person. this is very different from what Obama is actually doing.

Posted by: Matt at October 30, 2008 03:55 AM

Oh, also, since the panhandler has income he can file a federal income tax form (the judge said he
can use the local park bench for his home address) and he will get the following:
$600 stimulus payment check
$1000 tax credit check for college tuition (say hi to the waiter!!)
$7,000 tax credit rebate check as downpayment on a hybrid car (?new home address?
$$5,000 tax rebate check mortgage assistance (we assume sometime in the past he owed a home )
additional perks from local ACORN chapter of $5 and bottle of wine every time he registers to vote ( lets see 73 x $5 = $365)
but ... space is limited and I have only begun to scratch the surface of his gov'mnt rebate checks -- more on the way!

Posted by: rcs at October 30, 2008 03:35 PM

Matt - you don't understand. Obama is going to give tax breaks to people who make too little to pay taxes. That means April 15th they get a check even though the didn't pay any taxes.
They will tax the crap out of the already VERY highly taxed folks and give it in the form of tax refunds to people who don't pay taxes. That's redistribution.
I'm going to prove it, I'm going to quit my job with a 6 figure salary, spend a year doing nothing and fill out my tax forms. I will get a check, I promise you.

Posted by: at October 30, 2008 05:40 PM

Good Deal! Too bad the Lib(rulz) writing you do not understand it's not "Obamanomics!" It's Obamoronics....Thanx..............ed

Posted by: E. Butler at October 30, 2008 07:14 PM

Okay,

I have read through most of the comments, well not really because I am a busy person trying to make a living and supporting 13 employees and their families.

All you employees out there are working at a business that one or a few people have busted their a**es to make sure you get paid, even if they don't.

The waiter, in this particular story, was/is an Obama supporter. It doesn't matter if the person is working class or wealthy. He is working and the money he spends will go to buy things from your store. So the wheel keeps turning.

The Homeless man is representative of 30M people who do not work, are not looking for work, are not capable of work, or really just worthless, with their hand out and guilt written on their back that they love to hand out to you and me. Both parties, homeless guy, and waiter guy, are voting for Obama. Therefore both parties are recipients of Obama policies and theories. And both parties acted accordingly - Waiter guy is PO'd for losing a tip (unfair he claims) and Homeless guy immediately spends it on a black hole of his addiction.

Think about it then. who is right? I as working professional will do everything in my power to not have any funds to pay taxes in excess of what I think if fair. My employees get paid well and they want to keep everything that they earn. If I am taxed more than I can afford, and my clients are willing to pay for, then I will lay off my employees as necessary, who will then be on the dole from the government, who then will raise taxes to pay for them, thus perpetuating the cycle. Can't everyone see. too much government makes it actually worse, though your heart is in the right place.

And, finally, what about those RICH Senators, Obama and McCain included. Why are they exempt from what they put upon the "little" people. I think it is time that we vote, much like propositions in CA, to not just limit terms of our elected officials, but put actual caps on their salaries, perks and everything that they obtain. Forget going through congress, do it at a state and local level and stop the corruption where it starts - in the hands of those that control the purse strings of your unending donations to the state and federal government.

Anyway, this can on and on and on. The above article, if real (I have my doubts) is what it was meant to be, an objective lesson in taxes, redistribution of taxes, and the inequities of all of the above.

Have a great day and make sure you vote often!

cheerio

Posted by: at October 30, 2008 07:36 PM

Many kudos to Lee Walton for the ingenuous, yet simplistic way he demonstrated how Obama's Economic Strategy will work if implemented. It seems like the more educated and financially successful people in this country become, the less commonsensical they are about two plus two equals four mathematics. Regardless of whether or not Obama cuts taxes for some, he will have to raise taxes for others in order to give to those he feels are less fortunate. The net of this will have to be an overall tax hike so that there will be more income for the government to fund Obama's programs. In essence he is indeed proposing, in an albeit more complex and sophisticated manner, just what is in the article. Unlike some other readers, I do not see Lee's actions as cruel. Whether Lee's article was written about factual events or was a mere parable, I commend him for the valuable lesson.

Posted by: Kimberly at October 30, 2008 09:08 PM

To all of you who don’t believe this college student is taxed, or that his taxes aren’t being redistributed and used for “entitlements” for people your government has deemed more worthy than the student; You are wrong! Even if he doesn’t pay income tax, he is being taxed for Social Security and Medicare. Or do some of you still believe in Social Security Trust Funds, lock boxes and Santa Clause?

Posted by: at October 31, 2008 01:16 AM

Please explain how this is an applicable example of Obama's wealth redistribution. Obama will increase taxes for those making over $250,000 a year. Sure, those people work hard for their money, but $250,000 is quite a lot of money. How can you compare this to a low-income college student who works in a restaurant and makes little money? Obama is taxing those that are well off and can afford to give a little more... Some people work hard and don't make that all that much, they are the ones who need help.

Posted by: Al at October 31, 2008 01:01 PM

One the best articles of all time.

Everyone thinks socialism is a good idea -- until it happens to you.

What happens when that college student grows up to be a prodcutive, hard-working, successful citizen? I would be willing to bet his views might change. People should be encouraged -- and rewarded -- to work hard.

I am often reminded of the quote, "If you aren't a liberal when you are under 25, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative thereafter, you have no brain." So true.

Posted by: at October 31, 2008 06:52 PM

Hmmmm, sounds alot like someone I know....

During the 2000 campaign, on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” a young woman asked him why her father, a doctor, should be “penalized” by being “in a huge tax bracket.” McCain replied that “wealthy people can afford more” and that “the very wealthy, because they can afford tax lawyers and all kinds of loopholes, really don’t pay nearly as much as you think they do.” The exchange continued:

YOUNG WOMAN: Are we getting closer and closer to, like, socialism and stuff?. . .
MCCAIN: Here’s what I really believe: That when you reach a certain level of comfort, there’s nothing wrong with paying somewhat more.

Posted by: injustry at October 31, 2008 07:09 PM

boy some of the comments from Obama supporters rally illustrate the statement Ignorance is Bliss. Yes Obama is doing exactly what the reporter in the article did. The common theme of democrat class warfare. Tax increases on the EVIL rich making over $250000 per year or is it $200000 or $150000 Its hard to tell which lie Obama believes as true. Then he says he will give the money taken by taxation from the EVIL rich people ??? $150000, $200000, or $250000 to those making less than that and redistribute the wealth. Sounds a lot like Castro to me but the Obama supporters are blissful. I find it interesting that this is not a good idea when it affects those who support it. True liberalism everyone should do what I say because I know whats best for them. There is no way I should be held to the same rules I force on everyone else.
Good luck you blissful liberals. Its just sad that rhe rose colored glasses you wear arent alowing you to understand or comprehend what is happening.
Ignorance is Bliss

Posted by: at November 1, 2008 10:18 AM

Perfect article...
And i wish one of the liberals could answer this: If you reward under performance, bad decisions and in many cases downright laziness, while punishing productivity, what direction is the country going to go? When i was young i read a book that most lefty's apparently never read it was called if you give a mouse a cookie, and that's exactly whats going on here.

The best tax code would be just a flat 15% for EVERYONE, the waiter, the bum, and bill gates. Its the only thing that's fair and it allows the lower economic class to have a sense of contribution to society.

Whoever becomes president really needs to stand up and say:

"America every one of you is responsible for yourself. you need to make your own decisions and realize that in the end your life and status is just a sum of your everyday decisions. If you choose to sit on the couch all day then don't expect the government to hand you a dinner at 6. If you choose to have an Iphone instead of taking your sick kid to the doctor(and Ive seen this first hand from someone on government support) than that's fine but don't expect to have both. We are not responsible for your health care, food or childcare any more than we are responsible for mowing your lawn. The governments role is simple; highways, schools and national defense, everything else is up to you to decide and work for.

Posted by: Andrew Van Sicklen at November 1, 2008 02:20 PM

The problem is that this is all too little, and too late. Three years ago, when the economy started to slide down hill, that is when we the people, should have been given help. Now that big business is in trouble because this down hill turn is finally affecting the bottom line, they cry out. For Shame! If they had helped out the little people, and the little people would have in turned spent more, which would have helped out big business.

Posted by: totally aware at November 1, 2008 08:32 PM

What is intresting is that lee's lunch based upon his tip of $10.00 must have cost him somewhere between $50.00 and $100.00; 30 years ago lee could have bought the homeless man lunch and paid for his own lunch and left the waiter a nice tip at his favorite resturant with $10.00

Posted by: sl2008 at November 3, 2008 11:40 AM

Wrong wrong wrong wrong WRONG!!! Your illustration is NOT an accurate depiction of Obama's plan.
Picture this; You and that homeless person go into that same restaraunt to eat..Obama's plan says you will pay the college student a higher tip than the homeless person! You have the means to do it, and that homeless person can then save his money and use it to build up his own business so that he becomes as successful as you are which inturn he will have to pay the college student a higher tip the next time! At the same time, the college student is getting rich so he can further his education which is an investment in our nation because maybe he'll start a business and become successful also then in this case EVERYBODY becomes successful!!!

*(in this illustration you represent the big business, the homeless, the small business and the college student the government)

Mind you, Obama does not believe in just throwing money to any homeless person either, remember when he talks about making college affordable, he says he also expects the student to dedicate his time to the community with service! So its not like he's just getting a free hand me down of money...we the college students will have to work for it!

Posted by: Gracious at November 3, 2008 12:42 PM

Excellent article, This should be required reading for all Americans before they can vote. Thanks for putting this out there. People have no idea who they are voting for.

Posted by: kristen moffitt at November 3, 2008 01:17 PM

You do realize that they idea of "redistribution" has nothing to do with taking money from anyone or giving it to anyone else right? It's about making sure that people pay their fair share to the governmental coffers. Such as increasing taxes for people who make more that $1 million per year. It's ridiculous that the middle class pays the majority of the taxes, while the wealthy pay next to nothing. I know people who make incredible amounts of money who would be more than happy to pay more in taxes since they end of dishing out a smaller percentage of their pay to Uncle Sam than the hourly employees working for them.

Posted by: at November 3, 2008 06:36 PM

While that story is actually a very interesting one, it doesn't completely mirror a redistribution of wealth plan. You could have tipped the waiter a portion of that $10 and given the homeless the other portion. Obama isn't saying only the rich will have to pay taxes and the poor get off free.

Taking it further, if you want to be even more fair, you should have increased the amount of tip because you would be a party that represents the entity who controls the most amount of wealth. Under Obama's plan You would be making more than $250,000; the waiter would be under $250,000 but above something like $100,000; and the homeless man would be a single person making less than $40,000. The amount of redistribution goes accordingly.

So.. next time, to be completely fair, I would suggest tipping more. May I suggest a $20 tip, $8 to the waiter and $12 to the homeless guy?

Posted by: Holesinthestory at November 3, 2008 07:30 PM

"Your implication that Obama would re-distribute money (arguable in itself) from a poor college student waiting tables is so simple-minded it makes me cringe."

Obama will redistribute money, that's not arguable. All socialist governments do that, left winged or right winged. They differ only on the target of the redistribution.
And they take more from "poor college students" and working people than from wealthy people.
If you consume, you're paying taxes. Even my income taxes.
I'm a professional in a market where we're only a few (in relative terms), my company pays my salary and my income taxes because I can get a job anywhere else if they don't. It's more cost and that increases the price of the final product. The consumer pays. The working guy on lower layers of the production scale has to pay his income taxes from his own pocket and a higher price for the products he buys.
So, the story about the wealthiest paying more taxes is just a fantasy. It works in the numbers written on accounting books but the true is that wealth belongs to those who create it, if the government "redistributes" it, it has to steal from the true owners first.

Posted by: Mundo Libertario at November 5, 2008 10:17 AM

The posting as written is fantastic!

This will definitely be shared with all the liberals and other Obama lovers I know. And believe me, unfortunately, I know a whole lot of them.

Posted by: Tim Michael Case at November 5, 2008 11:11 PM

way to go. theft is theft, whether carried out by an individual or by a mob (true democracy is mob rule, if you don't beleive me try reading a book sometime). as far as the comments about this experiment being misplaced on a college kid, i could'nt disagree more. he's the one who needs it the most. in the next few years he will be making decisions about his career and he will be voting. does it help 'society' if he choses to perform under his potential because he needs to remain in a lower tax bracket? will he still support blatent socialism when he wants to pursue his own happiness? he must answer questions like these and now he is beginning to gather enough data to do so intelligently. wonderful article.

Posted by: constitution at November 7, 2008 06:02 AM