The story works the other way around, as well. Let us say that instead there is inflation. Everyone decides the original set up is fair, but now everyone is making more. However, the bar tender has to pay more for his goods. So instead of decreasing the cost of beer, he increases it to $120. The people have the same argument. Hey, it's not fair to make everyone pay an extra $3.33. Us poor folks don't have that kinda dough. So the bartender makes this suggestion… The first four still paid nothing (No change)
The fifth man pays $2 instead of $1. (100% increase)
The sixth now paid $4 instead of $3 (33%increase).
The seventh now pay $9 instead of $7 (28%increase).
The eighth now paid $15 instead of $12 (25% increase).
The ninth now paid $22 instead of $18 (22% increase).
The tenth now paid $69 instead of $59 (16% increase).  “That's not fair!” scream the man 5 through 9. He is not absorbing his fair share.  “But I'm absorbing 50% of the increase.” retorts man 10.  “But proportionally…” says man 9. “Look at the numbers. I'm paying more than you.” interrupts man 10. “But you already have more discretionary funds and don't have trouble buying bread, putting a rough over your head, and paying for your sick daughter.” With that, man 10 buys the bar. Now man 1 through 9 are paying $200 to man 10 for their beer. Posted by : Webname: Billyziege, PhD. student studying something mathy somewhere in Boston