Tricky trickle-down

A billionaire complained that ordinary people did not understand trickle-down economics. To demonstrate its effectiveness, he climbed onto his mansion’s roof carrying a bucket of champagne. Below stood his driver, cook, gardener and security guards, all awaiting their share of prosperity.

The billionaire poured the champagne onto the roof, where it flowed into expensive gutters, through elaborate drainage pipes, and finally into an underground recycling system that supplied his private swimming pool.

Not a drop reached the employees.


The billionaire was delighted. The experiment had conclusively demonstrated why the rich needed further tax cuts: wealth was clearly not trickling down fast enough.

Economical with Truth

A government announced that the economy was growing fasterthan expected. Nobody had expected it to grow. So, this was technically correct.

Economists celebrated by revising their forecasts upwards, while ordinary citizens celebrated by revising their grocery lists downwards. A TV anchor explained that rising prices were evidence of strong demand, falling wages indicated improved competitiveness, and unemployment demonstrated greater leisure opportunities.

The stock market promptly reached a record high. Asked why investors were so cheerful while consumers were miserable, a distinguished economist explained that markets always looked towards the future. Consumers, regrettably, still insisted on living in the present.