Bumper
02-26-2009, 02:54 AM
Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his
economics professor and says,
"I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you
explain it to me?"
The professor replied, "I don't have any time to
explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on
Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be
glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.
At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the
professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend
project involved his backyard pool.
They both went out back to the pool, and the professor
handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own
bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep
end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you
can." The student did as he was instructed.
The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the
shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket
into it." The student was naturally confused, but did
as he was told.
The professor then explained they were going to do this
many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of
the pool.
The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we
doing this?"
The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to
make the shallow end much deeper.
The student didn't think the economics professor was
serious, but figured that he would find out the real story
soon enough.
However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the
deep end, the student began to become worried that his
economics professor had gone mad. The student finally
replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time
and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this
process is all over, everything will be at the same level it
was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is
the destruction of what could have been truly productive
action!"
The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile,
"Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus
bill."
economics professor and says,
"I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you
explain it to me?"
The professor replied, "I don't have any time to
explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on
Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be
glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.
At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the
professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend
project involved his backyard pool.
They both went out back to the pool, and the professor
handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own
bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep
end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you
can." The student did as he was instructed.
The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the
shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket
into it." The student was naturally confused, but did
as he was told.
The professor then explained they were going to do this
many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of
the pool.
The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we
doing this?"
The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to
make the shallow end much deeper.
The student didn't think the economics professor was
serious, but figured that he would find out the real story
soon enough.
However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the
deep end, the student began to become worried that his
economics professor had gone mad. The student finally
replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time
and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this
process is all over, everything will be at the same level it
was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is
the destruction of what could have been truly productive
action!"
The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile,
"Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus
bill."