NO. 1146 -- HOW ABOUT A FREE HAIRCUT?

No. 1146

Jim Davidson...NEWSPAPER COLUMN

HOW ABOUT A FREE HAIRCUT?

A while back a friend sent me a very interesting story that contains a real moral that I would like to share with you. It begins like this: One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the barber finished, the man asked “How much?” The barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I have decided to do community service this week. There is no charge for your haircut.” The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a “Thank You” card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.
The next day a city policeman came in for a haircut. After the barber finished, he asked “How much?” The barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I’ve decided to do community service this week. There is no charge for your haircut.” The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up there was a “Thank You” card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at the door.
Then a Congressman came in for a haircut. After the barber finished, he asked “How much?” The barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I’ve decided to do community service this week. There is no charge for your haircut.” The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up, waiting for a haircut and a free shave.
And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it. As Ronald Reagan once said, “BOTH POLITICANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON.”
As I stated when I began this column, there is a real moral here and I would like to share it with you. However, before I do, let me say this example is certainly not true for all politicians. I personally know some very good ones who serve for the right reasons and have America’s best interests at heart. On the other hand, we often elect both men and women who are self serving and only look out for them and their friends. These politicians should be changed often.
Here is the moral, and it does not paint a very pretty picture. We tend to vote for people who have the same values we have. If we want “free” stuff, we will vote for those we feel will give it to us. I might add that this is why our national debt is now over $20 Trillion. If we want people who understand that there is no free lunch (someone has to pay for it), these are the kind of people for whom we will vote. The saddest news of all is the vast number of our citizens stay home on election day and do not vote at all. In reality, we only get concerned about our “freedom” when we think there is a good chance we may lose it. Several years ago I wrote a column titled, “You can’t sink half a ship.” The whole ship stays up or the whole ship goes down, and we are ALL on it.
Without a doubt, the United States of America is the greatest nation to ever grace this planet. From this point forward, let’s all pull together and elect leaders who will put our nation first and preserve the freedoms we all enjoy -- and turn those we discover are only self-serving out during the next election. What I am saying is non-partisan. Let’s get the crooks out of both parties, and give our country back to the people who built it. Don’t listen to what politicians say -- watch what they do.
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(Editor’s Note: THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY – Begin your day on a positive note – 365 days for $12. This will benefit the Bookcase for Every Child project. Go to www.apositivemomentwithjim.com to subscribe.)