Great Grandpa And The Silver Dollars -or- How The Government Steals You Blind

...a short fable about value and wealth.

Many years ago there was a man named George Franklin (His friends called him "Frank") who worked hard for his money. He was a machinist. He was highly skilled and highly sought after and, as such, was fairly well off. He and his wife had adequate savings, a nice home, some land, and several children.

One day, late in his career, he had an idea. Frank's idea was to take an entire months wages and give it to each of his first two great grandsons. He discussed this with his wife, Tina, and they agreed. Their children were all grown and married with either young children or expecting. It would take a bit of extra saving but nothing the couple couldn't handle. The house was paid for, the kids were raised, the car was old but seldom used.

Frank was paid a fairly handsome wage of $2 per day ($10 per week, $40 per month). It was high for a machinist but his skill...

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