My thanks to Cousin Johann for sending this bit of web wisdom along, author unknown:
Once upon a time a man appeared in a village and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each.
The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the style='color:#0013FE'> forest and started catching them.
The man bought thousands at $10 and, as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their effort. He next announced that he would now buy monkeys at $20 each. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again.
Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to their farms. The offer increased to $25 each and the supply of monkeys became so scarce it was an effort to even find a monkey, let alone catch it!
The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50 each! However, since he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would buy on his behalf. In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers: "Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has already collected. I will sell them to you at $35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each."
The villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys for 700 billion dollars.
They never saw the man or his assistant again, only lots and lots of monkeys!
Isn't that how the Wall Street bailout plan is supposed to work?
Here's the math:
Rimshots:
- Nancy Mistele announced her candidacy for County Executive Wednesday. Nothing in the Wisconsin State Journal or The Capital Times, either print or web. Nothing! But the State Journal on Saturday had room for an award given Kathleen Falk.
- Isthmus covered Nancy's announcement but come on, Bill Lueders, "Mistele did use some old familiars from the conservative playbook, like trying to exploit concerns about public safety." I don't think she's going to have to try too hard.
- Ann Althouse labels Dane County's response to the Brittany Zimmermann 911 call "Horrible negligence and a despicable cover-up. At best."
- I got to think Chicago TV late these nights is awash with sweaty-looking men in plaid sports jackets and loud ties booming this message: "Talked to Blagojevich lately? Our law firm can help. Call the number on the screen today. Operators are standing by."
- Ed Garvey blames the federal prosecutor! "Do I wonder if the Bush-Cheney appointed Fitzgerald may have crossed the line? You betcha." [See his December 10 blog.]
- Rod Blagojevich and Elliott Spitzer are the Democrats' idea of "reformers?" Sheesh. Both want to increase the power of government. I get the feeling the Illinois extortionist-in-chief is going to bring a lot of Democrats down with him. He is the political equivalent of the housing crisis. The pain will spread.
- The proposed Detroit auto bailout "promises taxpayer money today for reforms that may or may not come tomorrow." Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell after the UAW refused to consider any concessions before 2011. Then bail them out in 2011.
- Late last year I said Madison Police Chief Noble Wray was the man of the year. Now I see Madison Magazine has made it official. A cop, in Madison. Not some community organizer. That's significant.
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