Her eyes wide open now, the daughter pauses for reflection. “Gee, dad, I guess I see your point. How could I have been so stupid?” With a new pride, the father watches his daughter pack up her bag and head back to UT for the spring semester.

As professor Mitchell ends his lecture on the socio-economic factors that determine class structure in the US, he runs his chalky fingers through his thick, black hair and continues, “So, as you can see, in what many conservatives today call the 'good ole days', marginal tax rates on the wealthy were about twice what they are today, which essentially freed the lower classes from the burden of financially supporting those public institutions from which they had yet to benefit.”

The newest republican promptly raises her hand to protest, “But, professor, why should the wealthy pay more? Poor people would be wealthy too if they weren't so lazy and irresponsible.”

Professor Mitchell raises his eyebrows and grins. “And wealthy people are wealthy because they work hard?”

“Well, yeah. My dad works hard. He tells me all the time. Once he told me 7 times in just 90 minutes that his job was hard work.”

“I think I remember what you're father does, but tell me, how did he acquire his wealth?”

“I think he was part-owner of a baseball team for awhile.”

“And what did he do there? Did he make smart investments for the team? Did he mow the grass on the fields?”

“No, he mostly just talked to people. You know, he networked.”

The professor suppresses an urge to chuckle.

“Why was he so successful at networking? What made people want to talk to him? Was it his brilliant oratorical skill?”

The class laughs.

“No, I think he was already a well-known businessman.”

“Was he well-known for his hard work? For his business acumen?”

“I don't really know.” she admits.

“Well, was he a successful businessman?”

“He had four companies- he must have been!”

Again, laughter erupts.

“More doesn't always mean merrier. Do you know why he had four companies?”

“No.” She begins to wonder where her professor is going with this.

“Well, I do. They went bankrupt. Each and every one of them.”

“But that doesn't make any sense! Why would people continue to trust him if he couldn't keep any of his businesses afloat?”

“That's an interesting question. Why do you think people kept bailing him out?”

She thinks for a minute and answers, “Because he's a good man... trustworthy... affable. And he went to a prestigious university.” she smiles and continues, “Not as prestigious as ours of course- Hook em' horns! Go Bevo!”

The class erupts in wild applause.

“O.K. Settle down, class. So what you're saying is that your father is an all around nice guy.”

“Yeah, with a great education to boot.”

“And how does one get into one of these schools like the one your father went to?”

Exasperated now, she answers “You know, professor. The usual- good grades, test scores.”

“Hmmm.” The professor takes a deep breath and continues. “You know, not everyone that has good grades and test scores get into those colleges.”

“They don't?”

“Not always. Sometimes it helps to have a family member that has also gone there. It's called a legacy. And you get extra points for being one.”

“Like extra-credit points?” she asks.

“Yep. Except you don't have to do any work yourself to get them.”

“Well, that doesn't seem fair.”

“No? Do you know if your father was a legacy?”

“Actually, I'm pretty sure Poppy went there, too.” She is visibly upset now. “But once my dad got there, he made the most of his opportunity. That has to count for something, doesn't it?”

“I hate to break this to you, but I actually went to school with your father. And he wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Even when he was sober. And the worst part was he seemed proud of that fact. It was his badge of honor. He was the stereotypical frat boy.”

Three guys from Delta Felta Thi cheer from the back.

“Really? He never told me that? He sounds just like my friend Audrey.”

“So you see, Jenna, sometimes it has nothing to do with how hard you work. Laziness and irresponsibility can lead to wealth and power, too. And sometimes hard work leads nowhere if you don't know the right people.”

The professor gathers his things and announces “Class dismissed. Don't forget, midterms are Monday after the break!”

Jenna sits in silence as the class files out the door. She thinks to herself “my dad sure has a lot of explaining to do.”

A few days later, back at the ranch, Jenna confronts her father.

“Dad, you convinced me that in our society, the great thing is that deserving people are rewarded with wealth and the undeserving remain poor. My professor proved otherwise. He showed me that sometimes even the most undeserving among us rise to the top with the proper connections.”

“What?!” He's surprised to hear the tone in her voice. Can't she see he's busy clearing brush? “Was he talkin' bout that lazy, good for nuthin' friend a yers? What was her name again?”

“You mean Audrey? Audrey Delay?”

“Delay??? You didn't say she was Tom's little girl! She's a great gal- why, you let her know that when she graduates I'd be happy ta have her as my deputy chief of staff. You know, that position's opening up again.”

“But dad!” she shouts. “She doesn't deserve that!”

And that's when Dubya puts an arm around his daughter's shoulder and gives her another wink.

“Jenna, honey, being a republican means knowing that you and your friends are ALWAYS the deserving ones.”

How would you have replied to the original “joke”?