A young woman was about to finish her first year of university....

A young woman was about to finish her first year of university.

Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be Labor Party minded, and she was very much in favour of higher taxes, to support her education and for more government programs. In other words, the redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch blue-ribbon Liberal, a feeling she openly expressed.

Based on the lectures that she had attended and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years, harboured a selfish desire, to keep what he thought should be his.

One day, she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich, and the need for more government programs.

The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors, must be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded, by asking how she was doing at university.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 90% average, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party, like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many university friends, because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is your best friend Jenny doing?"

She replied, "Jenny is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies and she barely has a 50% average. She is so popular on campus, university for her is a blast. She's always invited to all of the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes, because she's too hung over.

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 20% off your average and give it to your friend, who only has 50%. That way, you will both have a 70% average, it would be fair and you would both be equal."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "that's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Jenny has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played, while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "welcome to the Liberal side of the fence."


If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Liberal and Labor/Greens, I'm all ears.