The following first appeared in a magazine in March of 1961 and again in August of 1974. Both were periods of economic uncertainty much like what we are facing today. Both then and now, I believe it's a story that needs to be told. I offer it now without further comment because the story speaks for itself.
A man lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.
He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.
He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers.
But he sold good hot dogs.
He put up a sign on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood by the side of the road and cried: "Buy a hot dog, Mister."
And people bought.
He increased his meat and roll orders.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.
He got his son home from college to help him.
But then something happened...
His son said, "Father, haven't you been listening to the radio?
If money stays 'tight', we are bound to have bad business.
There may be a big depression coming on.
You had better prepare for poor trade."
Whereupon the father thought, "Well my son has been to college.
He reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know."
So the father cut down on his meat and roll orders.
Took down his advertising signs.
And no longer bothered to stand on the highway to sell hot dogs.
And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.
"You're right, son" the father said to his boy.
"We are certainly headed for a depression."
-Author Unknown
