A little joke about income redistribution (Corporate Profits, minimum wage, drugs, Obama)

[Sonrise]

In a local restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" neck tie. When the
bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I
was exploring the Obama Redistribution of Wealth Concept.

He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to
redistribute his tip to someone whom I deemed more in need...the
homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 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 Socialistic Redistribution
experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did
not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money
that he did earn, even though the actual recipient needed the money
more.

I guess this Redistribution of Wealth is an easier thing to swallow in
concept than in practical application.

[Terri]

Pretty funny.

[ParkTwain]

I already commented on this parable, to say, why not give the $$$ to the local bridge construction company to help maintain the bridges falling down in that state. That is also an example of "redistribution," but one that helps everyone. What a load of tripe to the clueless!

[dvcgal]

This was already posted once. Why is it on here again??

[Innovator831021]

Heard this on the radio today... can't wait to put it to practice.

[destinedtodave]

I understand that you think you were being funny, and maybe I would find it funny too if I wasn't an ex-server. You sound like a real jerk; please know that unfortunately your food has been messed with if this is a common thing for you.

Most servers are college kids, single parents, etc who are struggling to make ends meet. They are usually paid SUBSTANTIALLY less than minimum wage and rely solely on tips for income. When you go to a sit-down restaurant and receive at least average service-you are obligated to tip 15% of the bill.

If you can't afford to tip, or don't out of principle head on over to Taco Bell.
That action makes the rest of us fiscal conservatives look bad.

P.S. if you actually want to help a homeless guy buy him a meal, don't just throw money at him. 9/10 it will be spent on drugs/booze.

[sailordave]

decafdave, and your attitude is the reason why I rarely, if ever, eat out at certain types of restaurants. If the above story is even remotely true then the server was in the wrong for wearing his or her politics on their work uniform for two reasons, 1. this is usually a violation of company standards and 2. by doing so you are going to receive little to no tips from those who disagree with your political statement. Secondly, the above story is a very good example of Obama's share the wealth except that in Obama's version it is the federal government who decides who will receive the money which usually is the politicians and their friends. Conservatives, in general, have no problem with charity as long as that charity is voluntary and not government mandated. I don't eat at restaurants that automatically tack onto the bill a tip for the serving crew. Either pay the servers at least minimum wage or don't pay them at all. I'll tip a server based upon his or her service. Tips should never be mandatory.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by dvcgal

This was already posted once. Why is it on here again??

Once? I think it's the third time this week. Not that there's any sort of echo-chamber or anything. The real Republican of course would have stiffed the waiter alright, then kicked the homeless guy for his lack of Personal Responsibility®, and given the money to some rich guy who already had more wealth than he knew what to do with. Still income redistribution of course, but this time UP the income scale...as it should be.

And as it has been for the past eight years. So much of the increase in real wealth brought about by productivity gains under this administration has been diverted into corporate profits and away from supposedly inflationary wage gains that the median real income of workers actually fell for the first five years that Bush was in office while corporate proifts soared. Make no mistake about it: Bush has been engaged in one of the most ambitious wealth redistribution programs of recent times -- taking it from an increasingly struggling middle class and handing it to the already wealthy upper class. That has been his game. Obama's plan would merely reverse that flow -- sending some from the über-comfortable upper class back down toward the struggling middle class that actually needs and earns it. Is that wool I see there that somebody has pulled over your eyes???

[saganista]

As for tipping, realize that being a server is a much tougher job than you think it is, and 15% is a bottom of the barrel tip in even in an in-and-out, high turnover place like IHOP. In any place where a meal is going to involve your sitting there for 90 minutes or more, 20% is the cut between bad and good, and tip-percentage is typically tracked as part of a server's performance rating. If you feel a need to stiff some guy or girl for poor service, at least try to do it in cash so it doesn't get into the computer system. Servers are just like you...sometimes they have off nights in the same way that Alex Rodriguez sometimes goes oh-for-five with three strikeouts. If you want to thank a server meanwhile, get the tip up over 20% and put it on your credit card. That way it will work in his or her favor twice. An easy rule of thumb is to divide the bill by four (that would be 25%, btw) then work down from there if there was something that you didn't like. If it was a nice place and you expect to come back again with some frequency, it will generally be worth your while to realize that 25% isn't an upper limit either. Servers and managers very much do remember those who tip well, and very definitley will go out of their way for you once they know you are one.

[GregW]

SAG hits another two for two.