"J. Clarke" wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>> Julie Bove wrote:
>>> "Omelet" wrote:
>>>
>>>> I still remember the glass ware you could get at gas stations...
>>>> and gas under $.25 per gallon. Mom and dad bitched when it hit $.27.
>>
>> I remember an incident back in about 1974 when I was used to paying 35
>> cents per gallon for gasoline and I had a motorcycle. I was so ****ed
>> off that the price had risen by 2 cents a gallon that I would not buy
>> gas there. Now we pay by the litre and it is close to a dollar per
>> litre, $4 per(US gallon).
>
>I remember when I could fill up a Lincoln for what it costs to fill up
>my motorcycle now.

I remember when I could pull up to a pump in LA in my '66 TR4A, hand
the attendant a buck and say fill it up and I got back change with my
double Plaid Stamps and a steak knife... also got my oil and tire
pressure tended to and got my windshield washed. Gas was 10¢/gal, if
I happened to be near Long Beach where all the refineries were located
gas was 9¢, even 8¢ a gallon. A full week's groceries for two and a
newborn cost under $15... back then Gerbers baby food cost 15 jars/$1.
There were no disposable diapers yet, cloth diaper service cost under
$20/month. In many ways life was better then, ordinary working folks
could live much better than in today's economy... folks had far fewer
bills, no cable, no cell phone, no internet... no leased car monthy
rent payments, my brand new TR4A cost $2,800.00 cash... a very good
restaurant meal for two and a child at a quality steak house ran under
$10... at the Golden Arches under a buck. Back then private industry
made sure all productive folks could well afford commodities, there
was far less grubbermint pickpocketing.

THE MODERN DAY LITTLE RED HEN (Obomanomics)

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, the duck,
the pig and 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 the 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 it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake
the bread?" asked the little red hen. "That would be overtime for me"
said the cow. "I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.
"Discrimination." screamed the goose. "Then I will." said the little
red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for her 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. "I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose. The pig
just grunted. And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched
around and around the little red hen.

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 is the wonderful free
enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he
wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive
workers must divide their product with the idle. So be grateful that
you're permitted to keep a small part of what you produced."

And they all 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.

THE END!