Son:    Dad, I have to do a special report for school.  Can I ask you a question?

Father:  Sure, son.  What's the question?

Son:    What is economics?

Father:  Well, let's take our home for an example.  I am the wage earner, so let's call me the Capitalist.  Your mother pays the bills with the money and takes care of things, so we'll call her the Government.  We take care of your needs, so let's call you the People.  We'll call the maid the Working Class and your brother we can call the Future.  Do you understand, son?

Son:    I'm not really sure, Dad.  I'll have to think about it.

 That night, awakened by his brother's crying, the boy went to see what was wrong.  Discovering that the baby had seriously soiled his diaper, the boy went to his parents' room and found his mother sound asleep by herself.
 He went to the maid's room and peeked through the keyhole. He saw his father in bed with the maid. The father and the maid totally ignored the boy's knocking, so the boy returned to his room and went back to sleep. The next morning he reported to his father.

Son:    Dad, now I think I understand what economics is.

Father: Good son!  Can you explain it to me in your own words?

Son:    Well Dad, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, Government is sound asleep, the People are being completely ignored and the Future is full of shit.

Originally found at www.inil.com/users/mikeycad/Stories/EmailStories.htm