Ten men go out for beer,the bill for comes to $100. They decide to pay the bill the way we pay our taxes, (Re read it if need be…)
The first four men pay nothing. ( They are the poorest but still had beer)
The fifth pays $1.
The sixth pays $3.
The seventh pays $7.
The eighth pays $12.
The ninth pays $18.
The tenth man pays $59.( He is the richest but didn't drink more than any of the others)
These ten men drink in the bar every evening and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one evening the owner came over and wanted to thank them for coming every evening. “You all are such good customers I’m going to reduce your evening bar bill by $20. Beer for all ten of you is now only $80."
The group decided to continue paying the bar bill like we pay our taxes. The first four saw no difference in their bill. ( remember they pay Zero, nothing, drink for free)
The other six decided to divide the $20 so each would get his fair share.
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
The bar owner, being good with numbers, suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by a higher percentage the poorer he was, to follow the principle of the tax system they had been using, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should now pay.
Now the fifth man paid nothing (100% saving). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% saving). The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% saving). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% saving). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% saving). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% saving).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But, once outside the bar, the men began to compare their savings.
“I only got a dollar out of the $20 saving,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,”but he got $10!”
“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more benefit than me!” “That’s true!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back, when I only got $2? Those sleazy wealthy people get all the breaks!”
“Wait a freaking minute,” yelled the first four men, tick off, men , “we didn’t get anything at all, nothing zero. This new tax system exploits the poor!” We should go occupy the tenth man's lawn, pee on his shrubs, leave litter and crap all over the street and get everybody to feel sorry for us even though we drink for free but no money.........The others feeling like that had be cheated joined in...
The nine men surrounded the tenth man's house. Peed on his lawn, left crap and litter all over. When the tenth man, who had been paying $59 a night for his beer, came out to see what was wrong the other men beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks so the nine sat down and had their beers without him. "Aw screw him we don't like his kind," they said. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
Boys and girls, ladies and gentleman, czars, government officials, jerks and Mr. President, that is how our tax system works, for better or worse. Those who pay the highest taxes, get the most benefit from a tax reduction or break. Raise their taxes, while throwing money away, attack them for being rich and when it's time for that beer, welfare check or new school they are not around. They found a place in another country where the price is cheaper, the people are friendly and look forward to them showing up. Yes, they are drinking overseas, where the atmosphere is very nice, people like having them around.
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