The Ant & the Grasshopper

[Shad0hawK]

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 he's 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 all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's 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 others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC, 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."

Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing "We shall overcome." Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Tom Daschle & Walter Mondale exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings 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 and 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.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.

The ant loses the case.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow.

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 once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!

 

[Moonbeam]

The ant and the grasshopper have been doing ant and grasshopper things for millions of years. What you describe here is just the repressed nature of the Republican mind, the constant fear of the future and the paranoid need to protect against imaginary demons. Jesus reminds us to consider the sparrow, it toils not neither does it want. For the fearless man God will always provide. Unbuckle your belt and look for trouble. In the sea there are riches beyond compare, but if you seek safety it's on the shore. Live while you are alive. Take what is given, give what can't be taken. The fool on the hill is standing there still.... The universe is contained in a grain of sand. Wisar Asaway amassed a fortune of 900,000 dinars. When the Angle of death came for him he pleaded for another year, then another minute for his 900000. The Angel gave him a moment to write: For 900000 dinar I could not buy another day. Know, Oh Man, the value of your time.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
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 he's 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 all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's 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 others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC, 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."

Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing "We shall overcome." Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Tom Daschle & Walter Mondale exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings 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 and 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.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.

The ant loses the case.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow.

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 once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

 

[Dari]

while accurate under certain circumstances, it is too simplistic.

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

The Visiting Liberal speaketh.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Dari
while accurate under certain circumstances, it is too simplistic.

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

The Visiting Liberal speaketh.

OK define to me what a Liberal is. I don't consider myself one but maybe I am mistaken.

 

[Bowfinger]

Moral of the story: ignorant twits believe lame political stereotypes.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari
while accurate under certain circumstances, it is too simplistic.

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

The Visiting Liberal speaketh.

OK define to me what a Liberal is. I don't consider myself one but maybe I am mistaken.

Duh! A liberal is anyone who disagrees with Dari.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari
while accurate under certain circumstances, it is too simplistic.

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

The Visiting Liberal speaketh.

OK define to me what a Liberal is. I don't consider myself one but maybe I am mistaken.

well, you claim to be impartial/independent, but then you call republicans cockroaches? WTF?

 

[minibush1]

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

I'm reminded of the line from Scarface (clean version):
"Forget Gasper Gomez, and forget the stinkin' Diaz brothers! Forget'em all! I bury those cock-a-roaches!" (Tony to Frank)

sorry, ignore me.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari
while accurate under certain circumstances, it is too simplistic.

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

The Visiting Liberal speaketh.

OK define to me what a Liberal is. I don't consider myself one but maybe I am mistaken.

well, you claim to be impartial/independent, but then you call republicans cockroaches? WTF?

Well they are. Ask me what I think of Kennedy, Franks or the "Reverend" Jessie Jackson. FYI I wrote in McCain in the last Presidential Elections because I refused to vote for Dumb or Dumber. Sure my vote didn't count but in retrospect it seemed that nobodies vote really counted.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: Dari
while accurate under certain circumstances, it is too simplistic.

I would if they weren't such Cockroaches!

The Visiting Liberal speaketh.

OK define to me what a Liberal is. I don't consider myself one but maybe I am mistaken.

well, you claim to be impartial/independent, but then you call republicans cockroaches? WTF?

Well they are. Ask me what I think of Kennedy, Franks or the "Reverend" Jessie Jackson. FYI I wrote in McCain in the last Presidential Elections because I refused to vote for Dumb or Dumber. Sure my vote didn't count but in retrospect it seemed that nobodies vote really counted.

Scalia's did.

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Moral of the story: ignorant twits believe lame political stereotypes.

even more ignorant ones make themselves prime example of them.

 

[Orsorum]

I would like to see this Republican president enact successful welfare reform.

 

[xochi]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I would like to see this Republican president enact successful welfare reform.

he doesnt have to. Clinton already did.

5 year limit
Manditory work requirments

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: xochi

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I would like to see this Republican president enact successful welfare reform.

he doesnt have to. Clinton already did.

5 year limit
Manditory work requirments

Buahahahaha

Orsorum - If Tommy Thompson has any say in it(he's in Bush' cabinet and former Govenor of Wisconsin) this will be adressed. Wisconsin's Welfare-to-Work program has been highly successful, many states are trying to model their welfare programs/reforms after what he helped put in place. I know here in Iowa there has been quite a bit of talk about using Wisc as a model. Lets just hope that SERIOUS reforms can take place nation wide.

CkG

 

[xochi]

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY

Originally posted by: xochi

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I would like to see this Republican president enact successful welfare reform.

he doesnt have to. Clinton already did.

5 year limit
Manditory work requirments

Buahahahaha

Orsorum - If Tommy Thompson has any say in it(he's in Bush' cabinet and former Govenor of Wisconsin) this will be adressed. Wisconsin's Welfare-to-Work program has been highly successful, many states are trying to model their welfare programs/reforms after what he helped put in place. I know here in Iowa there has been quite a bit of talk about using Wisc as a model. Lets just hope that SERIOUS reforms can take place nation wide.

CkG

explain how wisconsins model differs from the federal model.

 

[athithi]

Shad0hawK:

Do you really believe poor people are poor because they are lazy, stupid, greedy, petty, scheming, parasitic, criminally inclined and addicted to drugs? Do you also evaluate value solely based on material productivity? If X produces more wealth than Y, he is a more valuable person to society? Do you worship Ayn Rand (I know atleast one other ATer does )? Do you believe that all thought must be uniform or atleast based on fixed pricinples, commandments or edicts?

I don't comment on American politics as a matter of principle (simply because I'm not American), but your value system is very, very strange. You lead the modern world in dealing with diversity, tolerance and alternative thought and then suddenly disavow those very same ideas and believe that everybody should be involved in the same activity - that of producing material wealth. Do you yell at cripples and laugh at spastics too?

Here's my take on it: Not all people are created equal in terms of skills, intelligence, physical prowess, beauty, social stature or sheer luck. Some people have to lead, some have to follow and others have to be dragged behind. I agree, you are not your brother's keeper. But if you only look out for yourself, you are missing the bigger picture of evolution and you will know even less of why you are here in the first place. It also makes for a lonely, sterile life. How do you find that desirable?

 

[heartsurgeon]

"The ant and the grasshopper have been doing ant and grasshopper things for millions of years. What you describe here is just the repressed nature of the Republican mind, the constant fear of the future and the paranoid need to protect against imaginary demons. Jesus reminds us to consider the sparrow, it toils not neither does it want. For the fearless man God will always provide. Unbuckle your belt and look for trouble. In the sea there are riches beyond compare, but if you seek safety it's on the shore. Live while you are alive. Take what is given, give what can't be taken. The fool on the hill is standing there still.... The universe is contained in a grain of sand. Wisar Asaway amassed a fortune of 900,000 dinars. When the Angle of death came for him he pleaded for another year, then another minute for his 900000. The Angel gave him a moment to write: For 900000 dinar I could not buy another day. Know, Oh Man, the value of your time. "


you gotta love MoonBeam
refreshingly unadulterated youth and idealism

i too was once a moonbeam....

 

[shuan24]

Originally posted by: athithi
Shad0hawK:

Do you really believe poor people are poor because they are lazy, stupid, greedy, petty, scheming, parasitic, criminally inclined and addicted to drugs? Do you also evaluate value solely based on material productivity? If X produces more wealth than Y, he is a more valuable person to society? Do you worship Ayn Rand (I know atleast one other ATer does )? Do you believe that all thought must be uniform or atleast based on fixed pricinples, commandments or edicts?

I don't comment on American politics as a matter of principle (simply because I'm not American), but your value system is very, very strange. You lead the modern world in dealing with diversity, tolerance and alternative thought and then suddenly disavow those very same ideas and believe that everybody should be involved in the same activity - that of producing material wealth. Do you yell at cripples and laugh at spastics too?

Here's my take on it: Not all people are created equal in terms of skills, intelligence, physical prowess, beauty, social stature or sheer luck. Some people have to lead, some have to follow and others have to be dragged behind. I agree, you are not your brother's keeper. But if you only look out for yourself, you are missing the bigger picture of evolution and you will know even less of why you are here in the first place. It also makes for a lonely, sterile life. How do you find that desirable?

:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q

Cheers to that! :beer:

 

[XZeroII]

If you haddn't put in the Vote Republican part in there, this would have been a great thread. I am a republican and hope people vote that way, but you're kinda pushing people the opposite way with this one.

 

[BOBDN]

Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
"The ant and the grasshopper have been doing ant and grasshopper things for millions of years. What you describe here is just the repressed nature of the Republican mind, the constant fear of the future and the paranoid need to protect against imaginary demons. Jesus reminds us to consider the sparrow, it toils not neither does it want. For the fearless man God will always provide. Unbuckle your belt and look for trouble. In the sea there are riches beyond compare, but if you seek safety it's on the shore. Live while you are alive. Take what is given, give what can't be taken. The fool on the hill is standing there still.... The universe is contained in a grain of sand. Wisar Asaway amassed a fortune of 900,000 dinars. When the Angle of death came for him he pleaded for another year, then another minute for his 900000. The Angel gave him a moment to write: For 900000 dinar I could not buy another day. Know, Oh Man, the value of your time. "


you gotta love MoonBeam
refreshingly unadulterated youth and idealism

i too was once a moonbeam....

WTF happened to you now?

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: athithi
Shad0hawK:

Do you really believe poor people are poor because they are lazy, stupid, greedy, petty, scheming, parasitic, criminally inclined and addicted to drugs? Do you also evaluate value solely based on material productivity? If X produces more wealth than Y, he is a more valuable person to society? Do you worship Ayn Rand (I know atleast one other ATer does )? Do you believe that all thought must be uniform or atleast based on fixed pricinples, commandments or edicts?

some, but not all. a person is not "valuable because he produces", he produces and contributes to society because of that which inspires him to do so.

Originally posted by: athithiI don't comment on American politics as a matter of principle (simply because I'm not American), but your value system is very, very strange. You lead the modern world in dealing with diversity, tolerance and alternative thought and then suddenly disavow those very same ideas and believe that everybody should be involved in the same activity - that of producing material wealth. Do you yell at cripples and laugh at spastics too?

actually i am not a materielist, but i am a pragmatist. perhaps this quote by ayn Rand will put it into perspective for you:

"America's abundance was created not by public sacrifices to "the common good," but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes. They did not starve the people to pay for America's industrialization. They gave the people better jobs, higher wages and cheaper goods with every new machine they invented, with every scientific discovery or technological advance -- and thus the whole country was moving forward and profiting, not suffering, every step of the way."

Originally posted by: athithiHere's my take on it: Not all people are created equal in terms of skills, intelligence, physical prowess, beauty, social stature or sheer luck. Some people have to lead, some have to follow and others have to be dragged behind. I agree, you are not your brother's keeper. But if you only look out for yourself, you are missing the bigger picture of evolution and you will know even less of why you are here in the first place. It also makes for a lonely, sterile life. How do you find that desirable?

i agree with you on this, i am not saying we should ignore those in need, i do what i can to help my fellow man, but it is through heartfelt compassion which like morality, cannot be legislated. or put another way, taking care of myself must be my first priority, otherwise i would be in no condition to help anyone else.

BTW thank you for asking meaningful questions!

 

[heartsurgeon]

WTF happened to you now?

i grew up
i got a job
i started paying taxes (that would give you a nosebleed if you knew how much)
i started getting frivilously sued by malpractice attorneys
i've become a pragmatist

between the goverment taxing the daylights out of me,
trial lawyers trying to screw me and "win the lottery"
and the entire rest of the world believing they are "entitled" to the best care possible,
while refusing to participate in their own care (either by taking care of themselves, or by PAYING for the care they receive), i have become a pragmatist.

i take care of patients who will find the money to pay their hairdresser for a perm (?$50.00, maybe you female AT's can help me out), and buy 2 packs of smokes a day, but don't want to pay me a penny for the considerable time and effort i spend taking care of them. On top of that, they ask for "free" medication samples (which i give them).

when someone values the efforts of a hairdresser over the efforts of a physician, something ain't right...

flame me all you want....
i don't care...

and yes, i was a bleeding heart liberal once, until i figured out that the "downtrodden"
and the public at large, have insatiable wants and demands, and that everyone is trying to "game" the system all the time to their own advantage.

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
The ant and the grasshopper have been doing ant and grasshopper things for millions of years. What you describe here is just the repressed nature of the Republican mind, the constant fear of the future and the paranoid need to protect against imaginary demons. Jesus reminds us to consider the sparrow, it toils not neither does it want. For the fearless man God will always provide. Unbuckle your belt and look for trouble. In the sea there are riches beyond compare, but if you seek safety it's on the shore. Live while you are alive. Take what is given, give what can't be taken. The fool on the hill is standing there still.... The universe is contained in a grain of sand. Wisar Asaway amassed a fortune of 900,000 dinars. When the Angle of death came for him he pleaded for another year, then another minute for his 900000. The Angel gave him a moment to write: For 900000 dinar I could not buy another day. Know, Oh Man, the value of your time.

those in the sea call me a fool standing on the hill only because from thier vantage point they cannot see the tsunami coming, while i on the hill can. i knew poor wisar, instead of trying to bribe the angel though i bought a boat.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
The ant and the grasshopper have been doing ant and grasshopper things for millions of years. What you describe here is just the repressed nature of the Republican mind, the constant fear of the future and the paranoid need to protect against imaginary demons. Jesus reminds us to consider the sparrow, it toils not neither does it want. For the fearless man God will always provide. Unbuckle your belt and look for trouble. In the sea there are riches beyond compare, but if you seek safety it's on the shore. Live while you are alive. Take what is given, give what can't be taken. The fool on the hill is standing there still.... The universe is contained in a grain of sand. Wisar Asaway amassed a fortune of 900,000 dinars. When the Angle of death came for him he pleaded for another year, then another minute for his 900000. The Angel gave him a moment to write: For 900000 dinar I could not buy another day. Know, Oh Man, the value of your time.

those in the sea call me a fool standing on the hill only because from thier vantage point they cannot see the tsunami coming, while i on the hill can. i knew poor wisar, instead of trying to bribe the angel though i bought a boat.

You're just too good for me.