Monkey See, Monkey Do

You start with a group of monkeys, hang a banana on a string, and then you place a set of stairs under the banana.

Before long, one of the monkeys will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana.

You then spray ALL the monkeys with cold water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray ALL the monkeys with cold water.

Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new monkey.

While the others stand back, the new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs.

To his shock, ALL of the other monkeys beat the crap out of him. After another attempt and attack, the new monkey knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with a new monkey.

The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. Now, the previous newcomer takes part in the punishment – with enthusiasm – because he is now part of the ‘team.’

Now, the monkeys that are beating up new monkeys have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

Having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water.

Nevertheless, not one of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the Banana.

Why, you ask? Because in their minds, that is the way it has always been!

This is how today’s House and Senate operate, and this is why, from time to time, ALL of the monkeys need to be REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME, but you know that won’t happen!

DISCLAIMER: This is meant as no disrespect to monkeys.