And The Moral Of The Story Is...

[007]

No one is singing and dancing and playing all summer unless they are already independently wealthy. Some of the richest people in this country sing and dance and throw balls around for a living. It sounds like you're getting a poor person mixed up with a celebrity. They're not the same, trust me.

What if the grasshopper is holding down 3 menial jobs to make ends meet with 2 kids and no health insurance because that's all he can get? Maybe he should go and get his MBA, ritght? Wait, there are no MBA jobs anymore - or entry level - or intermediate level - all gone. Oh well...Does that sound like singing and dancing and PLAYING to you? Yep, that's one lazy bug. What reality are you living in???

Yep like all the banks pushing NINJA home loans blaming the gummit, they made me do it. Please bail me out.

You left out the mention that Wall Street was screaming, crying, begging, pleading and paying off congress for relaxed lending requirements and to look the other way so that they could get more of their exotic instruments out there to the public so that they could make even more money. Do you realize that they were making 7 and sometimes 10x returns on these rediculous loans? That was my money and your money. And we lost dearly, thanks to lots of Mr. Ants.

Nice justification for your pro-selfish idealism. A society is judged by how they treat the least among them. You want to live in a sink or swim society? Sarah Palin can point you to where Russia is. Have a good looksee at how the majority of the citizens are living over there.

You got this off of a right wing blog today, didn't you. Amazing. They managed to fit almost all the official "talking points" into a satirical fable. And I thought neocons were not creative...

I truly hope we never become the type of society that you desire. Not that you could call it a "society". A third world country, maybe... Oligarchy?

You just changed the entire point of the thread. You did, basically, what uscitizen did... obfuscated.

The OP is a story about our government "spreading the wealthy," as per quote from obama.

Now you either AGREE with "spreading the wealth" or you don't.

Where do you stand?

 

[Oldandtired]

You think your mom would have achevied so much if she simply "got things"?

No one is asking to simply "get things". You insulted me because you make it sound like those without are merely dithering their lives away without a care in the world and then demanding a handout. Is that not the "moral" (interesting irony in words, won't you say) of this fable? Not everyone can start their own business, especially in this economy. Starting a business takes money and the demand for a good or service. You act like everyone can just snap their fingers and have their own business that supports them and their family. It takes work and time and research. How is a single mom working 3 jobs to do this, pray tell?

And why would you admire my mother? According to you, because she didn't "succeed", she's the lazy irresponsible grasshopper in this story, so save me your sanctimonious "did what she had to do" bullcrap. According to your little fable, she was a one paycheck away from being like the grasshopper you describe.

Your mother did what she had to do. She did not give up.
Look around you. Poeple are giving up. They are all jumping on that "I am a victim" bandwagon.
Your mother didnt.
As for money to start a new business?
Talk to my son.
No money to start. Got a job doing manual labor.
Saved for 4 months....used that money as the front for his freelancers payroll for his service that he offered out.
Yes, they do the work and he pays them...and yes he makes decent money (now 23 years old)...and he works long hours.....and it all started with a minimum wage job cleaning pools for a summer.

 

[Oldandtired]

On where the Grasshopper got his money? From the ant of course. he convinced the ant he could invest his money thru the grasshopper and get more money.
The ant wound up paying himself and the grasshopper as well.

He convinced the ant huh...

Of course it has nothing to do with the ant, through his own personal greed that we all have, allowed himself to be convicned of a deal that was too good to be true.

Nothing to do with that at all I guess....huh?

You are most of the way there in figuring it out Old.

Those above us have the power that we give them.
Of course once given it is hard to get back.

Time for you to get it....

It is the greed of people that allows them to be hurt by the greedy.

The greedy can not hurt a person unless that person is greedy himself.

Those that got hurt in the market, wanted their money to make money for them.

Those that took NINJA loans looked to capitalize on the honor system.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Now you either AGREE with "spreading the wealth" or you don't.

Where do you stand?

When a small majority (10% or less) hold almost 3/4 of the wealth (it was 71% in 2001, I believe - it's probably even more now) of a country, there is a serious problem. So yes, I agree with spreading the wealth when it gets this dangerously skewed to one side.

 

[uscitizen]

He convinced the ant huh...

Of course it has nothing to do with the ant, through his own personal greed that we all have, allowed himself to be convicned of a deal that was too good to be true.

Nothing to do with that at all I guess....huh?

You are most of the way there in figuring it out Old.

Those above us have the power that we give them.
Of course once given it is hard to get back.

Time for you to get it....

It is the greed of people that allows them to be hurt by the greedy.
- What I said.

The greedy can not hurt a person unless that person is greedy himself.
- Again what I said.

Those that got hurt in the market, wanted their money to make money for them.
- Again...

Those that took NINJA loans looked to capitalize on the honor system.
- or just wanted something for nothing?

We are not far off in our views on this.

 

[Oldandtired]

Now you either AGREE with "spreading the wealth" or you don't.

Where do you stand?

When a small majority (10% or less) hold almost 3/4 of the wealth (it was 71% in 2001, I believe - it's probably even more now) of a country, there is a serious problem. So yes, I agree with spreading the wealth when it gets this dangerously skewed to one side.

Just curious...
You think all of those billions of dollars lost when the dot com bubble burst scared many out of the market...and that is why the gap is widening?

I know many that never invested a dime in the market again after that.

 

[uscitizen]

Now you either AGREE with "spreading the wealth" or you don't.

Where do you stand?

When a small majority (10% or less) hold almost 3/4 of the wealth (it was 71% in 2001, I believe - it's probably even more now) of a country, there is a serious problem. So yes, I agree with spreading the wealth when it gets this dangerously skewed to one side.

Just curious...
You think all of those billions of dollars lost when the dot com bubble burst scared many out of the market...and that is why the gap is widening?

I know many that never invested a dime in the market again after that.

Considering how the market was roaring before the bust, I doubt that it scared very many out. this time however is another matter and one reason this will take a while if we ever make it back to ground zero.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

You think all of those billions of dollars lost when the dot com bubble burst scared many out of the market...and that is why the gap is widening?

The gap is widening because all legislation seems to be skewed toward benefit of the wealthy and corporations. Also because of the farce that is "trickle down economics". It is also widening because of corporate practices of downsizing, offshoring jobs and firing experienced people with seniority and hiring less experienced or non-skilled people who will work for much less. Also, wages are decreasing at an alarming rate for those at the middle and bottom of the wage spectrum vs the rising cost of living.

Harder to handle widening income gap in recession - Apr. 9, 2008

 

[007]

Now you either AGREE with "spreading the wealth" or you don't.

Where do you stand?

When a small majority (10% or less) hold almost 3/4 of the wealth (it was 71% in 2001, I believe - it's probably even more now) of a country, there is a serious problem. So yes, I agree with spreading the wealth when it gets this dangerously skewed to one side.

Then perhaps you would more enjoy living in communist North Korea, or China?

To me all that indicates is that our nation is turning into a nation of people that are asking, "what can my government do for me," instead of asking "what can I do for my government?" We've turned into a nation of lazy sons a bitches standing around with our fucking lazy hands out wanting to get something for nothing. What a disgusting trend, and anyone that's OK with it.

Get off your ass! You are NOT ENTITLED to what I have EARNED!

You people make me sick.

 

[rightwinger]

Now you either AGREE with "spreading the wealth" or you don't.

Where do you stand?

When a small majority (10% or less) hold almost 3/4 of the wealth (it was 71% in 2001, I believe - it's probably even more now) of a country, there is a serious problem. So yes, I agree with spreading the wealth when it gets this dangerously skewed to one side.

Then perhaps you would more enjoy living in communist North Korea, or China?

To me all that indicates is that our nation is turning into a nation of people that are asking, "what can my government do for me," instead of asking "what can I do for my government?" We've turned into a nation of lazy sons a bitches standing around with our fucking lazy hands out wanting to get something for nothing. What a disgusting trend, and anyone that's OK with it.

Get off you ass! You are NOT ENTITLED to what I have EARNED!

You people make me sick.

Good point. People are entitled to what they have earned and it shouldn't be taken away from them. Working Americans have seen a decrease in their salaries, fewer benefits and a lower standard of living.
Meanwhile executive level management has seen a magnitude increase in salary and benefits.

Nobody is looking for a confiscation of assets or turning into North Korea (don't you love the right wing over reaction?). Labor laws and tax rates have been skewed to throw more money at the super rich.
Time to relevel the playing field

 

[Mr. Peepers]

To me all that indicates is that our nation is turning into a nation of people that are asking, "what can my government do for me," instead of asking "what can I do for my government?" We've turned into a nation of lazy sons a bitches standing around with our fucking lazy hands out wanting to get something for nothing. What a disgusting trend, and anyone that's OK with it.

No, it is a nation of most of its people having to fight for less and less available wealth while a handful at the top keep more and more - and all the while the price of everything goes up and up. What will we do when the top 10% hold 95% of the wealth? What then? No one is asking for a handout, but you have to admit, those of us in the lower 90-95 percentile are being fleeced. Why are their incomes rising 9% while the rest if our real wages are falling? Why is that OK? That is precisely spreading the wealth, only in the other direction... to the top!

Oh, and as for your dumb question? North Korea is a dictatorship with one man in control. Less that 1% of the population in N. Korea owns pretty much all the money. Did you hear this morning on NPR where they replaced the money overnight and gave the masses the equivalent of $40? Do you really want such a small group of people to control all of the wealth and power? You don't see this as dangerous? What stops our 10-5% from declaring themselves dictators and we become slaves?

North Koreans Upset Over Currency Changes : NPR

As for China, well...

Income gap in China reaches alert level

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Time to relevel the playing field

That's right. I suggest our own little French Revolution if things keep getting worse. We should start with the MIC.

 

[007]

To me all that indicates is that our nation is turning into a nation of people that are asking, "what can my government do for me," instead of asking "what can I do for my government?" We've turned into a nation of lazy sons a bitches standing around with our fucking lazy hands out wanting to get something for nothing. What a disgusting trend, and anyone that's OK with it.

No, it is a nation of most of its people having to fight for less and less available wealth while a handful at the top keep more and more - and all the while the price of everything goes up and up. What will we do when the top 10% hold 95% of the wealth? What then? No one is asking for a handout, but you have to admit, those of us in the lower 90-95 percentile are being fleeced. Why are their incomes rising 9% while the rest if our real wages are falling? Why is that OK? That is precisely spreading the wealth, only in the other direction... to the top!

Oh, and as for your dumb question? North Korea is a dictatorship with one man in control. Less that 1% of the population in N. Korea owns pretty much all the money. Did you hear this morning on NPR where they replaced the money overnight and gave the masses the equivalent of $40? Do you really want such a small group of people to control all of the wealth and power? You don't see this as dangerous? What stops our 10-5% from declaring themselves dictators and we become slaves?

North Koreans Upset Over Currency Changes : NPR

As for China, well...

Income gap in China reaches alert level

No I don't enjoy seeing the gap widen between the haves and the have nots. But you won't find me standing in line expecting someone that's worked harder than me to just hand over some of what they've earned because I didn't work as hard as they did. I could have gone to college for eight years and became a lawyer. I almost did, and I probably would have gone into Political Science as well and ran for office. But I didn't. I just didn't want to spend that kind of time in school. I wanted some adventure in my life so I joined the military and spent eight years in the Air Force. Came out of there and went to college and got a two year degree in Electrical Engineering. Didn't really want to continue that direction so I started my own Handy Man business. Did pretty well too but still wasn't really satisfied. So I sold that business and went to Motorcycle Mechanics Institute for Harley Davidson. Retired from Harley Davidson and now am more or less retired and making money on the side. So you see, I'm not exactly hurting but I'm not rich either. But I worked at getting where I'm at. I have friends that make considerably less money than I do and I have friends that make more. Had I decided to sit on my ass all my life and do nothing just to bitch about how broke I was, that would be entirely my fault, and would NOT deserve for someone to give me part of something that THEY WORKED for. That would be rewarding laziness, and I'm afraid in many cases nowadays that's exactly what our government is doing, and it's creating a whole nation, a whole class of people that are growing to EXPECT something for nothing. GIMME, GIMME, GIMME... sickening.

 

[rightwinger]

Time to relevel the playing field

That's right. I suggest our own little French Revolution if things keep getting worse. We should start with the MIC.

Not looking for confiscation of existing wealth or a modern Robin Hood. Just a return to the distribution of wealth that existed 20 years ago. Why do CEOs make 500 times average worker salary when 30 years ago they made 90? Why do CEOs in the US make triple what they make in Japan? Are they that much better?
No....the answer is they do it because they can. In a trickle down market, they decide what they keep and what they trickle down.
Do the Super Wealthy get that way by taking risks? No, they get that way by making sure no risk is involved. When "He who has the gold, makes the rules", they make sure labor laws, tax laws, environmental protections and tarrifs are written to protect them.
All of this comes out of working Americans pocket.

 

[Dr Grump]

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!




MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood..

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

And this is reality how?

 

[gautama]

Are those who just play the market and do not actually produce any product Ants or Grasshoppers?

STUPID UScitizen who is in reality an Obamarrhoidal Commie,

Most, if not ALL (statistically speaking) "people who play the market" WORK 8 hours a day.

It's a different kind of work unlike shovelling dirt......but it IS work.

They buy food, cars, houses, etc......PAY TAXES and use the money THEY EARN much the same way as any other citizen in America does. This money circulates, and with the multiplier effect benfits all.

BTW, and you can google this info:

The TOP 50% of Americans pay 97% of all the taxes. The BOTTOM 50% of Americans pay a measly 3%.....whereas the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of whom DO NOT PAY ANY TAXES AT ALL......not only that......THEY GET ADDITIONAL MONEYS instead of paying any.

If you don not favour the American Enlightened Capitalistic System that made America the GREATEST NATION on this PLANET for over 2 centuries, then you can flippity flop your arse OUTA HERE to some socialistic country of your choice..

We do not need OBAMARRHOIDS to transform us into the other SOCIALISTIC COUNTRIES..... especially with their FUCKED-UP, rationed Health care system that causes their citizens to flock to America to get taken care of.

 

[gautama]

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!




MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood..

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

And this is reality how?

Frumpy Grumpy.......

If you would be one iota more STUPID than you already are......you'd be dead,

 

[007]

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!




MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood..

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

And this is reality how?

Maybe if you lived in America you'd know.

 

[Dr Grump]

Frumpy Grumpy.......

If you would be one iota more STUPID than you already are......you'd be dead,

And if you had half a brain you'd be dangerous

 

[Dr Grump]

OLD VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away..

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!




MODERN VERSION

The ant works hard in the withering heat and the rain all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

CBS, NBC , PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'

ACORN stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, “We shall overcome.” Then Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

President Obama condemns the ant and blames President Bush, President Reagan, Christopher Columbus, and the Pope for the grasshopper's plight.

Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.

Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity & Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.

The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the Government Green Czar and given to the grasshopper.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper and his free-loading friends finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which, as you recall, just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around them because the grasshopper doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow, never to be seen again.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident, and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the ramshackle, once prosperous and once peaceful, neighborhood..

The entire Nation collapses bringing the rest of the free world with it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2010.

And this is reality how?

Maybe if you lived in America you'd know.

I don't need to live in the US to see an analogy that is not a reality....