His Dutch Uncle Is Someone You May Know

To The Editor:
My uncle is kind, generous, and wealthy. He has an expensive car, and the most beautiful lawn in the neighborhood. He is good humored and seems to have plenty of money to spend. He has every electric gadget designed to fulfill his need for personal entertainment.
I work at the widget factory down the street. I’m not complaining, it’s a job, but it’s a 40-hour week at only a dollar an hour. We have a modest but sufficient lifestyle, and try to make the dollar stretch. Card games, family conversations and enjoying nature occupies most of our free time.
Sometimes my uncle stops by with items he no longer wants. He gives us designer clothes he does not wear, surplus food ordered but not consumed, and workable, out-dated electronics. We are grateful for his generosity because we can use it all. I became curious as to how my uncle could accumulate such wealth. I followed him as he went to work one day, finely dressed and in his expensive car. He drove to the widget factory; he must be the boss I thought! Not so, he put on a widget maker’s uniform and began working, but only for just four hours. When he finished he redressed, got in his car and drove to the bank. He signed a paper for a loan of $100, gave the bank back $10 dollars as interest, and drove home with $94 dollars in his pocket, which includes his daily wages The next day he did the very same thing, worked four hours, went to the bank and signed a loan for $100, but this time the bank took $20, $10 for the continuing first loan and $10 for today’s loan. Still, Uncle came home with $84 dollars for a half days work,. He repeated this until the interest of $100 dollars equaled the amount of the loan. Then he stopped and went to another bank, and opened a new borrowing account, and began again to apply for a $100 dollar loan.
When I next encountered my uncle, I confessed that I had observed his work and financial techniques. He was not a bit embarrassed. He said he had no real intentions of ever paying off the loans, and that a half days work was his limit. He had gotten accustomed to his life style. He managed his material resources in a similar manner by disposing of his trash in his own backyard to avoid trash collection fees. For a price, he also allowed the widget factory to use his ground as a waste disposal site. He believes he is a successful entrepreneur and has the experience needed to run for Congress.
That’s my uncle! Perhaps you know him. His name is Sam.
ERIC HALLBERG
Villas