Joke for John Rabi

[csgray]

John,
One of your recent posts somehow reminded me of a joke my father learned from a fellow economist while doing research in Yugoslavia in the late 60s or early 70s.

An economist from the United States was visiting a steel working factory somewhere behind the Iron Curtain; after the second day he realized that while the workers appeared very busy they were not actually getting anything done, just carrying the same tools, raw materials, and product from one end of the factory to the other, and back. Finally he asked the foreman who had been showing him around "Everyone seems really busy, but no one is really working. What's the deal?"

The foreman replied "Well, they pretend to pay us, so we pretend to work."

Disclaimer: No real or imaginary Eastern Europeans were harmed while making this joke. My mother's family all came from this part of the world and I am proudly part of the ethnic group who are the heroes of the joke.

Carol

[John S. Rabi]

quote:

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Originally posted by csgray
"Well, they pretend to pay us, so we pretend to work."

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Yep, that's hw it used to be there, and I assume it still pretty much the same. It will take a few generations to change the mentality of the people of the former Communist countries.
PS. I want to see somebody labeling "racist" me for that! After all, I was born there! [][][]

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,PB,ABR,CRB,CM,FHS
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[csgray]

My dad was back there about ten years ago doing more consulting on how to develop market systems, he said people in their 20s to 40s were pretty motivated and entrepreneurial but the older generation who came up under the old Soviet regime hadn't adapted to the new system. They were pensioned off as fast as possible, it was cheaper than keeping them on the job.

From the Hawaiian history I've been reading recently it sounds like Hawaii went through a similar changes of mindset and generational changes after the plantation system shut down.

Carol

[bystander]

To keep this Puna related, you could say this socialist mentality is still alive and well in Hawaii's state and county workers.

[Kapohocat]

quote:

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Originally posted by bystander

To keep this Puna related, you could say this socialist mentality is still alive and well in Hawaii's state and county workers.

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And in that vein I will take what was a very politically incorrect joke that used a ethnic group and with a few minor adjustments - using Billy, the County of Hawaii employee (two forums, one joke.)

An COH employee finds an old brass bottle in his back yard, gives it a rub, and a genie appears. The genie tells him he can have three wishes. "I wanna be rich" says Billy, the County of Hawaii Employee.
"BANG": the back yard fills up with huge chests overflowing with gold coins and jewels.
"I'm no fool" says Billy, "I wanna be CEO of Microsoft".
"BANG": he's changed, suddenly he's Bill gates.
"Thirdly, I never want to work another day in my life".
"BANG": he's Billy ,the COH employee again.

[Guest]

Carol,

Do you really think that was funny? I don’t care if you put a disclaimer at the end of it, the bottom line is that you are a racist. Your inner feeling are showing and they are very offensive to some of us people. Folks here on this site should be outraged. Carol you have a major flaw in your physic make-up and definitely need some sensitivity training.

Good God almighty woman now you are bringing in world predigest to Puna, have you no shame. Lets see here, you have posted 1068 post to date and enlighten Punawebbers with your volumes of vast knowledge on every subject. How could you let these racial feeling that you harbor be so exposed?

Please explain,

The Lack

The Lack Toons