An economics professor said he had never failed a single student before but had, once, failed an entire class. The class had insisted that socialism worked - and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer for all, for society. The professor then said ok, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism.
He said that all grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone was given a B. The students who studied hard were upset, and the students who studied little were happy. But, as the second test rolled around, the students who hadn't studied much for the first test had studied even less, and the ones who studied hard weren't motivated to study hard again, and they decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The second Test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else. All failed .... and the professor told them that the socialism they wanted would ultimately fail, as they had, because the reward of success normally goes to those that work harder, but when government takes the reward away; few will try so no one will succeed.
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Comments: 42
http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/socialism.asp
This LEGEND has been around since at least 1994 according to snopes.com.
http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/socialism.asp
Ellie !., Apr 14, 2009, 10:46am EDT
a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
an economic system based on state ownership of capital
I'll cede you the idea that if all of those students had continued to either study or not study as they would normally ... the class as whole might have passed the course. But what then?
Only a certain percentage of the class would have actually learned anything or been motivated to learn anything. In fact, it would have been the ones who were already good students who could have benefitted from the class. Those who weren't already motivated to make or already making good grades .... they would have benefitted by getting a passing grade but then what?
On the surface, on paper, they would have had the same education as those who had actually earned the grades they all got by default. But only a portion of that class would be ready to go on to be doctors, nurses, mechanics.
And having already been educated in how to get by on someone else's grades, how in the world will they ever learn how to actually do any job except by hanging on the coattails of someone else in order to bask, yet again, in the shadow of what some other person does.
If everyone had kept to the same level of study that they originally had, then it would have worked out for the better of the class. socialism is about everyone working together, not a small group doing most or all of everything.
Ellen B., Apr 14, 2009, 11:21am EDT
How? How would it have been better? Mmm... maybe a couple more questions might clarify what I'm asking when I ask 'how would it have been better."
Which one of those students do you want taking care of your car the next time it's in the shop? One of the ones who actually know how to study, apply that know-how, and learn how to do more studying and more things because of the inner motivation that causes them to want to figure stuff out? Or one of the ones who coasted through the class on someone else's work?
Which one of those students do you want doing your appendectomy? One of the ones who worked and studied and earned their grades by actually learning what they started out to learn ... and more? Or one of the ones who had someone else's grades, acheivment and potential expertise applied to them through no study or work of their own?
Which one would be more qualified to do an abortion? Well ... it's hard to tell where they got their education anyway but for me, IF I was to have to have an abortion, I'd want it to be by someone who can read, applied that know how, learned, studied, and earned the title of doctor for himself/ herself. Not someone who was simply in the same socialistically graded class as a real doctor. +shrug+
If everyone had kept to the same level of study that they originally had, then it would have worked out for the better of the class. socialism is about everyone working together, not a small group doing most or all of everything.
Ellen B., Apr 14, 2009, 11:21am EDT
I believe in capitalism being the mainstream way we do business, but there is a place for socialism. If we did everything in a purely capitalistic way, little babies would be forced to earn their way. (This is where I usually have arguments with my libertarian/objectivist friends who believe that we should have a system of pure capitalism.)
On the other hand, predatory capitalism does not work either. It just consumes itself over and over and thus has an eternal "boom and bust" cycle which can only be broken if we change ths sort of economic system we are using.
There is a cooperative form of capitalism that has elements of socialism without the detrimental effects because it still has the incentives of capitalism. I like to call it Net Benefitism.
I strongly support universal healthcare, food stamps, SCHIP. Am I a filthy socialist? Having some services such as the ones I have mentioned does not make this a socialist nation!
: )
Healthcare, food for the poor and such are not incentives. If they are freely provided to all (under our current system) those at the bottom have no incentive to work because they already have what they need. Those at the top who are working their butts off and advancing innovation are likely not all motivated by money, many are just creative geniuses who love what they do so no matter what system those sort are in they will continue to invent and create. But others at that level who are not as clever will sit back and ride the coattails of those who are, working less and less as they realize their rewards are the same no matter how much or little they work.
Under the system proposed on the website www.nopom.info one can earn as much as one wishes... but in order to earn ANYTHING your actions/work must lead to net benefit. Net benefit is derived by taking overall benefit and subtracting any negative consequences. In other words, if the negative consequences of what you have done equal the positive, then you get no pay. If the negative consequences outweigh the positive, it may even affect your future pay. It will certainly affect your reputation, which is a large part of the proposed system.
There is so much more but go to the website articles page and choose the topics you want to hear more about. That's easier than trying to reiterate here.
And Mary, another good one. :)
I always hated the grading system in schools. just doing the work is learning enough.
Happy Gatherversary from Comment As You Please
Unfortunately this has become commonplace within the mindset of many Americans today. Instead of taking the time out to critically question our views, and/or the views of others, many of us choose to take short cuts to thinking by accepting, and regurgitating, the information that is presented to us. Perhaps that was the true lesson of this story.