The Value Line Mutual Fund Survey

The Good and The Bad

My mother, bless her soul, cuts articles out of her local newspaper for me and mails them up to New York every two weeks or so from her home in Florida. They generally come in three forms; coupons, Yankees news, and what I call “silly human tricks.”

The latter are the most enjoyable, as I am constantly amazed at the predicaments into which people get themselves. They range from the completely absurd to the downright ridiculous. The most recent batch, however, contained two short articles in local papers that were polar opposites financially and ethically.

The first, a story about Garrett Dalton of Connecticut, was a sad commentary on ethics in our society. It seems that Mr. Dalton wanted tickets to see a Hannah Montana concert, which I’ll assume were for his child or children. In an attempt to win tickets, he entered a contest that required him to dress as a woman, wear high heels, and run a 40- yard dash carrying an egg in a spoon. It sounds like a silly, though probably entertaining, race. He lost.

Now, I have no problem with him joining in on the fun of this event, the issue is that, at the time of the race, he was receiving workers’ compensation for an injury he claimed rendered him unable to work. How do I know this? Someone saw Mr. Dalton and recognized him. They turned him in to authorities.

It is appalling that someone would try to take advantage of the system in such a way, though I know it happens. Still, they are taking from every person who works, as those who work ultimately bare the costs of such deceits, and from those who legitimately need workers’ compensation, as Mr. Dalton’s expenses take from the sum available for others—not to mention that his actions change the perception of everyone who receives this form of assistance.

I won’t even discuss the issue of parents being role models for their children.

At the other end of the spectrum, was a story about a man, Luke Pittard of Wales, who had decided to return to work at the McDonalds where he worked 18 months or so earlier. It seems that this man and his girlfriend won a large sum of money in a lottery just prior to him quitting. Although I don’t particularly approve of, or even understand, gambling, it was, obviously, a stroke of good luck. Moreover, he probably should have remained at work while he figured out what to do with the money, but he didn’t.

After “retiring” for 18 months, Mr. Pittard apparently got bored and went back to work at McDonalds. He noted that he enjoyed working there and stated, “there’s only so much relaxing you can do.”

Here is a person who could have, if he was judicious with his finances, never worked again. However, after living it, he realized that the life about which many people dream (all leisure and without substantive work) isn’t as enjoyable as it sounds. Moreover, working at something you enjoy can actually be fun. Imagine that, a work ethic.

Someone should get Mr. Pittard in a room with Mr. Dalton for a quick conversation.

The real issue here, and one that many people need to learn (not just Garrett Dalton), is that you open an emotional and moral hole when you simply take without ever giving back. And I’m not talking about giving to a charity, which is a nice thing to do, I’m talking about giving back by being a productive member of society, which is a benefit to everyone. The gentleman at McDonalds knows that; the man running around in a dress didn’t—though it’s likely the courts will educate him on this matter.

All too often I find people who believe that the world owes them something simply because they exist. This isn’t true. You will get out of life what you put into life, and usually no more. Happiness comes from being a productive member of society—which can mean anything from being a stay-athome parent to a line cook at McDonalds to the President of The United States. This is a lesson that needs to be taught and is something that is worth sharing with your children and grandchildren.

Prepared by
Reuben Gregg Brewer
Director of Research