More than a little bit of truth?

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th March 2009, 09:53

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.

That weekend 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 started 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."

**Stirts** · 13th March 2009, 10:05

And I thought the Stimulus Bill was the money you owed to a prostitue. :slap:

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th March 2009, 10:10

Originally Posted by Stirts

And I thought the Stimulus Bill was the money you owed to a prostitue. :slap:

Close. But the difference is that in that case, 'you' are adding to the net amount of fluid contained therein...

**rainman** · 13th March 2009, 14:15

Originally Posted by MSTRS

"Congratulations! You now understand the stimulus bill."

Not a Keynesian, then?

The problem is it isn't the amount of water in the pool, it's how fast it is moving around...

**MSTRS:Me** · 13th March 2009, 15:17

Originally Posted by rainman

Not a Keynesian, then?

The problem is it isn't the amount of water in the pool, it's how fast it is moving around...

No. More Artesian, myself....
Surely the problem is that the deep end keeps most of the water to itself, and begrudgingly allows the shallow end to have a little bit. And whenever an outside force takes some off the deep end and gives it to the shallow end...well, that greedy deepend just takes it all back.
I can see that the only answer would be to have the bottom of the pool on a seesaw-like pivot...periodically changing so both ends gert to see what the other half has to put up with.

**rainman** · 13th March 2009, 19:04

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Surely the problem is that the deep end keeps most of the water to itself, and begrudgingly allows the shallow end to have a little bit. And whenever an outside force takes some off the deep end and gives it to the shallow end...well, that greedy deepend just takes it all back.

Yer a socialist! I never would have guessed.

The deep end will always be deeper. Sorry, that's just how capitalism works. Actually, I suspect the real problem is too many people in the pool.

**jrandom** · 13th March 2009, 19:13

I think we should fill the pool with grain alcohol and set it on fire.

**FJRider** · 13th March 2009, 19:18

Originally Posted by Stirts

And I thought the Stimulus Bill was the money you owed to a prostitue. :slap:

NO... thats the incentive bill..

**MSTRS:Me** · 14th March 2009, 13:24

Originally Posted by rainman

Yer a socialist! I never would have guessed.

Wash your dirty mouth out...

Originally Posted by rainman

Actually, I suspect the real problem is too many people in the pool.

Perhaps if I 'did something' in the pool they will all flock off?

**slofox** · 14th March 2009, 13:38

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Perhaps if I 'did something' in the pool they will all flock off?

Nah - the gummint will do that...

**rainman** · 14th March 2009, 14:26

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Wash your dirty mouth out...

Wikipedia: "Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating ... a society characterized by equality for all individuals, with a fair or egalitarian method of compensation."

MSTRS: "Surely the problem is that the deep end keeps most of the water to itself, and begrudgingly allows the shallow end to have a little bit. And whenever an outside force takes some off the deep end and gives it to the shallow end...well, that greedy deepend just takes it all back."

Not a million miles apart, those.

But given this is Jokes and Humour, as you were.

**discotex** · 14th March 2009, 15:00

Totally... Worse is we'll be borrowing money to pay someone to bucket the water around.

Roger Douglas for all his infamy hits the nail on the head here.

"Pretending we can avoid the pain of economic contraction may make us feel better in the short term, but pretence will add to the pain we feel when the inevitable adjustment occurs," he said, criticising the scale of the Government's borrowing programme.

"The only effect of borrowing and spending will be to create ever-larger boom and bust cycles."

**jtzzr** · 14th March 2009, 15:31

I know this sounds stupid, but on the surface the deep end and the shallow end are the same level , it`s just the levels underneath that makes the difference , does that mean that regardless of how much substance you have , we are all on the same level?