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Red Hen (From Ronald Reagan...A gem!)

Reagan In His Own Voice (Audio book/download) ^ | November 1976 | Ronald Reagan

Posted on by Recovering_Democrat

A modern day little red hen may not sound like or appear to be a quotable authority on economics but then some authorities aren't worth quoting. I'll be right back.

About a year ago I imposed a little poetry on you. It was called "The Incredible Bread Machine" and made a lot of sense with reference to matters economic. You didn't object too much so having gotten away with it once I'm going to try again. This is a little treatise on basic economics called "The Modern little Red Hen."

Once upon a time there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said 'If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?'

"Not I, " said the cow.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen. And she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Out of my classification," said the pig.

"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.

"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

At last the time came to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake bread?" asked the little red hen.

"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.

"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.

"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.

"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for the neighbors to see.

They all wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I can eat the five loaves myself."

"Excess profits," cried the cow.

"Capitalist leech," screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights," yelled the goose.

And the pig just grunted.

And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched round and around the little red hen shouting obscenities.

When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You must not be greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That's the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations productive workers must divide their products with the idle."

And they lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, I am grateful." But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked any more bread.



TOPICS:

Business/Economy

Government

News/Current Events

Political Humor/Cartoons

KEYWORDS:

bureaucracy

capitalism

fable

labor

profits

I recently inherited a CD copy of the above radio addresses by Ronald Reagan. Many of us may not know Reagan had a syndicated radio show--a couple minutes a week--across the nation from 1976 to 1979. He offered bits of wisdom and philosophy...and he wrote them himself. I think you can download these radio pieces for less than $10 at amazon. I don't own any stock in this--but I can tell you, it is well worth the price. Reagan was a great man--and he still speaks wisdom to us today.



To: Recovering_Democrat

The book, "In His Own Hand" has many speeches the Gipper wrote throughout his career and is a great insight into this man who was a principled patriot.



This Little Red Hen story is not original with Reagan, but his delivery enhances any story.



To: Recovering_Democrat

Reagan made us feel good to be Americans, Clinton made us ashamed of our relatives and Bush makes us sad.



by 3 posted onby Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)

To: Old Professer

Clinton is still apologizing for some damned thing.



To: Old Professer

So far, Reagan has been the best President in my lifetime, Carter has been the worst, Clinton has been the most disgraceful and G.W. Bush is still an unfinished manuscript.



To: Recovering_Democrat

Heaven is richer for his presence, and we are poorer for his absence.



God rest President Ronald Reagan.



I miss him.



by 6 posted onby mkjessup (The Shah doesn't look so bad now, eh? But nooo, Jimmah said the Ayatollah was a 'godly' man.)

To: Recovering_Democrat

Ronald Wilson Reagan was, IMO, the greatest president in my lifetime. I'll never forget the goosebumps I had when I first heard his speech in support of Barry Goldwater. I taped it on an old reel to reel recorder so my kids could hear a real statesman.



(BTW, I'm getting the same feeling about John Cornyn, Senator from TX. Time will tell...)



by 7 posted onby Humidston (Congress is like the Mafia - NO PAY, NO PLAY.)

To: Recovering_Democrat

Got the MP3s? Freepmail me?



by 8 posted onby ChadGore (VISUALIZE 62,041,268 Bush fans. We Vote.)

To: Old Professer

***...and Bush makes us sad.***



Sorry you're sad about President Bush, but I thank God for all he's done for this country.



by 9 posted onby kitkat (The first step down to hell is to deny the existence of evil.)

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