Then and Now

As the funding of Obamacare is debated in the Senate, a story is brought to my attention:

30,000 years ago, two caveman tribes were hunting the same territory. Each tribe had around 15 members (give or take). At the end of the day, Tribe Oonga was able to hunt down and kill a deer. Meanwhile, Tribe Bunga was not as successful, only able to catch a rabbit this fine day. The two tribes rarely had interaction, but if they were in America today, here's how things would go:

We will assume a deer of 120 pounds. 

Of this, on average, 40 pounds of meat can be taken. 

This will be our baseline. 

US Democrat Party (Socialist platform) -
This arm of the government would want to take half the deer from Oonga and give it to Bunga. In the process, they would take 60% of the meat for themselves (24 pounds for the government), leaving only 16 pounds of meat. That sounds like a lot, but split among 30 individuals, it is barely enough food for a day - barely more than 8 ounces of meat per person.

The government throws the other 24 pounds of meat into the nearby lake.


US Republican Party (quasi-Communist platform) - 
This arm of the government would be made to feel guilty by the other arm (Democrat). In the end, they would compromise, and take 55% of the meat for the government (22 pounds), and "allow" the Oonga Tribe to keep 2/3 of the remaining meat - 12 pounds. Divided among 15 people of the Oonga tribe, each person gets less than 13 ounces of meat.

The Bunga tribe splits 6 pounds of meat to split among 15 people. Barely more than 5 ounces of meat per person is not enough for a meal.

The Oonga Tribe hates the Bungas because they took some of the Oonga's meat.
The Bunga Tribe hates the Oongas because the Oongas had more meat than they (the Bungas) did. 

The government throws 20 pounds of meat into the lake, and then scatters the remaining 2 pounds among other pets it has in different districts. The pets are vegetarian.


The Libertarian Party -
The Oonga Tribe keeps the deer. 40 pounds of meat is roasted and shared among 15 people. That's nearly 3 pounds of meat per person, feeding the entire tribe for a couple of days. After they have eaten the deer meat, and used the other parts for tools, clothes, etc., the OOngas go back out hunting. This time, emboldened by their success, they hunt larger game again!

The Bunga tribe splits less than a pound of rabbit meat among 15 people. Each person gets a bite, and the last three people are SOL, as the meat ran out on Mog, who was 12th in line. Mog gets cracked upside the head, and the tribe goes to bed hungry.  The next day, motivated by their hunger, they bring down a wooly mammoth and have over 1000 pounds of meat - enough for many days. They share with the Oongas of their own accord, as without the motivation, they never would have thought to take down something that large.


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