It was hot. The summer heat was in full gear. While sitting at the lanai table, sipping a cold beer, the wife spoke to me. "Honey," she said, "I'm afraid we need to tighten our budget."
"Not again," I replied. "Yes" she said, "another one of our neighbors is in financial trouble."
"Who?" I asked. "The Logans, down the street," she said.
"Hmmm, how?" I asked. "They over spent, living outside their means, they're upside down in their mortgage, and now they've lost their jobs, and the bills are due." she said.
"What has that got to do with us?" I asked. "Well," she replied "The President and the board of the homeowner's association voted in an amendment that says that if any of the members of the association get in financial trouble, the rest of us will pay their bills."
"But didn't we help out the last time?" I asked. "Yes, but that was for the Jones and Legots, they both had financial trouble and still do. As a matter of fact, we have to come up with more money for them too," she replied. "Now, the Logan's are in financial trouble, and I hear the Boors are also." she said.
"That sounds unfair. We have bills to pay too." I said. "I know sweetheart," she said "But the homeowner's President says that since you are working, and they're not, it is only fair that you pay for them. He called it re-distribution, social justice, or something like that."
"Why can't they get some kind of a job?" I asked. "Because the jobs are paying too little," she said "And they claim it is beneath them to work for such little wages."
"Hmmm," I thought and then said. "Sweetheart, are the remainders of the families okay with this?" "Well," she said, "They're all in trouble too. In fact, the association is also going to ask us to help out them as well, you know, for the good of the neighborhood."
"Eghads," I said and groaned, "It isn't working. We'll end up with nothing trying to support those who don't want to go to work, or foolishly got themselves in financial trouble. The entire neighborhood will be draining our checkbook dry!!!"
The wife just shrugged.
"When do we elect a new President and Board?" I asked. "Not for two years," she replied.
"Sweetheart," I exclaimed, "This is the perfect formula for failure of everyone in the neighborhood! It is time to sell and move to another neighborhood where we can work and keep our earnings for our self."
Think about it.
"Not again," I replied. "Yes" she said, "another one of our neighbors is in financial trouble."
"Who?" I asked. "The Logans, down the street," she said.
"Hmmm, how?" I asked. "They over spent, living outside their means, they're upside down in their mortgage, and now they've lost their jobs, and the bills are due." she said.
"What has that got to do with us?" I asked. "Well," she replied "The President and the board of the homeowner's association voted in an amendment that says that if any of the members of the association get in financial trouble, the rest of us will pay their bills."
"But didn't we help out the last time?" I asked. "Yes, but that was for the Jones and Legots, they both had financial trouble and still do. As a matter of fact, we have to come up with more money for them too," she replied. "Now, the Logan's are in financial trouble, and I hear the Boors are also." she said.
"That sounds unfair. We have bills to pay too." I said. "I know sweetheart," she said "But the homeowner's President says that since you are working, and they're not, it is only fair that you pay for them. He called it re-distribution, social justice, or something like that."
"Why can't they get some kind of a job?" I asked. "Because the jobs are paying too little," she said "And they claim it is beneath them to work for such little wages."
"Hmmm," I thought and then said. "Sweetheart, are the remainders of the families okay with this?" "Well," she said, "They're all in trouble too. In fact, the association is also going to ask us to help out them as well, you know, for the good of the neighborhood."
"Eghads," I said and groaned, "It isn't working. We'll end up with nothing trying to support those who don't want to go to work, or foolishly got themselves in financial trouble. The entire neighborhood will be draining our checkbook dry!!!"
The wife just shrugged.
"When do we elect a new President and Board?" I asked. "Not for two years," she replied.
"Sweetheart," I exclaimed, "This is the perfect formula for failure of everyone in the neighborhood! It is time to sell and move to another neighborhood where we can work and keep our earnings for our self."
Think about it.
