THE GINGHAM DRESS................

A lady in a faded gingham dress and her husband,
dressed in a homespun threadbare suit, stepped off
the train in Boston, and walked timidly without an
appointment into the Harvard University President's
outer office.

The secretary could tell in a moment that such
backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard
& probably didn't even deserve to be in Cambridge.

"We'd like to see the president," the man said softly.

He'll be busy all day," the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait," the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally
become discouraged and go away.

They didn't, and the secretary grew frustrated and
finally decided to disturb the president, even
though it was a chore she always regretted.

"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll
leave," she said to him!

He sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of
his importance obviously didn't have the time to
spend with them, and he detested gingham dresses and homespun suits
cluttering up his outer office.

The president, stern faced and with dignity,
strutted toward the couple.

The lady told him, "We had a son who attended
Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy
here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally
killed. My husband and I would like to erect a
memorial to him, somewhere on campus."

The president wasn't touched. He was shocked.
"Madam," he said, gruffly, "we can't put up a
statue for every person who attended Harvard and
died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."

"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly. "We don't
want to erect a statue.? We thought we would like to
give a building to Harvard."

The president rolled his ey es. He glanced at the
gingham dress and homespun suit, then exclaimed, "A
building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a
building costs? We have over seven and a half
million dollars in the physical buildings here at
Harvard."

For a moment the lady was silent. The president
was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now.

The lady turned to her husband and said quietly,
"Is that all it cost to start a university? Why don't we just start our
own? "

Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in
confusion and bewilderment.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked
away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they
established the university that bears their name,
Stanford University, a memorial to a son that
Harvard no longer cared about.

You can easily judge the character of others by
how they treat those who they think can do nothing
for them.

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Wow, that's a great story Dominique, thanks for sharing that :)

Yes, terrific story. Unfortunately, it still happens in today's society.

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Excellent Dom - Wonder 'How Many People' still haven't got a clue . . .

Thanks for that Post . . .


richard

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

It is a great story, but it is just that, a story.

From Stanford University, Dispelling an Urban Myth

Although that doesn't mean that the moral of the story isn't true.

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Calm Chaos Forum...Join Calm Chaos Now

It is a great story, but it is just that, a story.

From Stanford University, Dispelling an Urban Myth

Although that doesn't mean that the moral of the story isn't true.

eXactly . . .

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

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flaming balloons

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

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Account frozen...

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

Cost of housing in the UK has a much greater impact that the taxes :(

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Reality Internet Personality

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

Cost of housing in the UK has a much greater impact that the taxes :(

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.

Or is there?

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Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

Cost of housing in the UK has a much greater impact that the taxes :(

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.

Or is there?

The high cost of housing in the UK is caused mainly by the following factors:

1) The market (ie demand outstrips supply)
2) Lenders lending people more money than they can really afford to borrow,thus driving up house prices.
3) The selling off of subsidised council housing in the 80s and 90s.

---

Reality Internet Personality

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

Cost of housing in the UK has a much greater impact that the taxes :(

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.

Or is there?

The high cost of housing in the UK is caused mainly by the following factors:

1) The market (ie demand outstrips supply)
2) Lenders lending people more money than they can really afford to borrow,thus driving up house prices.
3) The selling off of subsidised council housing in the 80s and 90s.

Yes, and don't forget estate agents fees and stamp duty (which is quite a sizable tax)

---

flaming balloons

It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

Cost of housing in the UK has a much greater impact that the taxes :(

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.

Or is there?

The high cost of housing in the UK is caused mainly by the following factors:

1) The market (ie demand outstrips supply)
2) Lenders lending people more money than they can really afford to borrow,thus driving up house prices.
3) The selling off of subsidised council housing in the 80s and 90s.

Yes, and don't forget estate agents fees and stamp duty (which is quite a sizable tax)

The stamp duty is a sizeable tax..but if house prices were lower the tax would be lower and quite a few homes would fall under the threshold for it anyway. So really the 3 factors I named are the main driving forces behind the ridiculous cost of homes in this country.

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Reality Internet Personality

The high cost of housing in the UK is caused mainly by the following factors:

1) The market (ie demand outstrips supply)
2) Lenders lending people more money than they can really afford to borrow,thus driving up house prices.
3) The selling off of subsidised council housing in the 80s and 90s.

Yes, those are all part of it as well. Just as all the taxes that are imposed on the raw materials, the labor, the sales themselves, the property, et cetera.

---

Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.
Or is there?

Hmmm...something to ponder.
In 1952, corporations contributed 32.1% of total revenues taken in by the US government.
By 1998, the total percentage from corporations was down to 11.5%.

Q: Who has made up the difference in the percentages collected?
A: Working people

Solution: Stop voting against your own interests. Do not drink the Kool-aid.

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.
Or is there?

Hmmm...something to ponder.
In 1952, corporations contributed 32.1% of total revenues taken in by the US government.
By 1998, the total percentage from corporations was down to 11.5%.

Q: Who has made up the difference in the percentages collected?
A: Working people

Solution: Stop voting against your own interests. Do not drink the Kool-aid.

Good point...nor the water...they've trashed it.

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Account frozen...

[quote]
Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.
Or is there?

Hmmm...something to ponder.
In 1952, corporations contributed 32.1% of total revenues taken in by the US government.
By 1998, the total percentage from corporations was down to 11.5%.

Q: Who has made up the difference in the percentages collected?
A: Working people

Solution: Stop voting against your own interests. Do not drink the Kool-aid.

Whats Cool Aid? Is it better than alcohol...does it destroy your brain?

---

Hmmm...something to ponder.
In 1952, corporations contributed 32.1% of total revenues taken in by the US government.
By 1998, the total percentage from corporations was down to 11.5%.

Q: Who has made up the difference in the percentages collected?
A: Working people

Solution: Stop voting against your own interests. Do not drink the Kool-aid.

In reality "working people" in 1952 paid all of that 32.1 percent of total revenue, just like they paid the 11.5 percent in 1998. That's because working people, i.e., everyone, always pays 100 percent of all revenue taken in by the U.S. gov't. They always will because all those taxes on corporations are simply costs, passed directly to the consumer, just as the costs of labor, materials, steel, glass, rubber, leather, ingredients, et cetera are. You pay for the rubber in your shoes, the costs of labor in your shoes, the leather, the strings, et cetera, and you pay for any taxes, tariffs, and regulations as well.

---

Cordially,
Rush

elrushbo2@theobviousgmail.com
Remove the obvious...

[quote]It's truly a good story. It's also true that we spend a fortune on education in England, and some of the brightest leave and go abroad. They call it the brain drain, most likely due to the numerous taxes we chase people away with.

The cost of livng...although taxes are a part of that.

Cost of housing in the UK has a much greater impact that the taxes :(

Really. Ever consider how massive taxation drives costs up? Even on housing?

But you should be thrilled. You have "free" health care. And there is no connection whatsoever between massive taxation and brutally expensive housing.

Or is there?

The high cost of housing in the UK is caused mainly by the following factors:

1) The market (ie demand outstrips supply)

This has been going on for decades. Not possible in a capitalist country.

2) Lenders lending people more money than they can really afford to borrow,thus driving up house prices.

If this were true then why do the banks lend it? They're the ones taking the risks. Apparently those borrowers and lenders agree with eachother. The implied 'solution' in this complaint would be to coerce people to live in lower quality housing than what they actually prefer and are willing to pay for. I bet we could 'house' alot of people in cardboard boxes too.

3) The selling off of subsidised council housing in the 80s and 90s.

If this were true that housing prices are 'too high' then why not just advocate total government takeover and subsidization of ALL housing? Why not? If water's wet on tuesdays stands to reason water's wet on the other 6 days of the week.

This is the worst fallacy listed despite what the socialist apologists may claim to the contrary. Government run housing, subsidies, and controls like capped rents always diminish the availability of housing.

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Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!

Hmmm...something to ponder.
In 1952, corporations contributed 32.1% of total revenues taken in by the US government.
By 1998, the total percentage from corporations was down to 11.5%.

Q: Who has made up the difference in the percentages collected?
A: Working people

Solution: Stop voting against your own interests. Do not drink the Kool-aid.

In reality "working people" in 1952 paid all of that 32.1 percent of total revenue, just like they paid the 11.5 percent in 1998. That's because working people, i.e., everyone, always pays 100 percent of all revenue taken in by the U.S. gov't. They always will because all those taxes on corporations are simply costs, passed directly to the consumer, just as the costs of labor, materials, steel, glass, rubber, leather, ingredients, et cetera are. You pay for the rubber in your shoes, the costs of labor in your shoes, the leather, the strings, et cetera, and you pay for any taxes, tariffs, and regulations as well.

Yeppers. 'Corporate' taxes are really just taxes on production that naturally burdens economic growth, real purchasing power, etc etc.

Even some socialist countries are smart enough to have a zero capital gains tax (a kind of corporate tax).

Look at Ireland! Bless their newfound ways. Everyone in their country is benefitting in enormous ways after their pro capitalist tax reforms; especially the 'working people'. Same thing with some of the socialist countries in Europe and S.America (Chile in particular).

They'll never stop trying to get a mystical dose of something for nothing though. Hasn't stopped them from ruining nation after nation and life after life for over a hundred years in every corner of the world.

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Founder of BOINC team Objectivists. Oh the humanity! Rational people crunching data!
I did NOT authorize this belly writing!