I teach many courses at a university, and one of them is economics.
By anyone's standard, I'm wealthy, the wealth attained by planning, by hard yet enjoyable work, by obligation, by high and strict conduct, by adventure.
I pay high taxes and wouldn't mind paying more if I knew the money wasn't going down a rat hole.
Yet, despite paying into social security, medicare, medicaid all of my life, I'll never take a dime from my contributions. I don't need to, merely my decision. So I think I'm contributing my fair share.
Back in the classroom, regardless the course, politics frequently comes up. Many students think they're liberal. I never impose my political views, but all the students know I'm conservative. Still I constantly remind students that actions lead to predictable results in everyday life, in a society, in a government. The principal of cause and effect never changes.
But liberals and conservatives in the classroom are arriving at an agreement: Regardless the outcomes of the next general election they think it's time for another movement to coalesce, another political party, to return the government back to the people for the best interest of the nation.
All the impressionable students are tired of politicians seeking their own gain, not really giving a damn about anyone else, and not at all giving a damn about their nation.
As my wife and I do at home in raising our three boys, I run a dictatorship in the classroom. Surprisingly the students enjoy the discipline because they're inspired by the questions I ask.
I always add classes before a semester to try and meet the demand. All my classrooms are stuffed, with more students waiting in line to enter. Many students have said that they chose the unversity that I teach at because they wanted to learn under me, and that I'm entertaining.
I'm doing my job at the university, I tell my students, and showing my value as an employee. "By your overwhelming attendance here, I'm increasing the profits of the university."
Everyone laughs, but all the students get the meaning.