The “two cows” joke is a humorous take on various economic and political systems. It typically follows a similar format where the economic system is described based on how it would deal with the ownership and management of two cows. Here are a few examples:
- Capitalism: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.
- Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one cow and gives it to your neighbor.
- Communism: You have two cows. The government takes both and gives you some milk.
- Fascism: You have two cows. The government takes both and sells you some milk.
These examples are just a few variations of the “two cows” satire. The joke plays on the different ways economic systems allocate resources, and it often satirizes the strengths and weaknesses of each system. Read about the “Tow Cows” history on Wikipedia.
See below one variation file (PDF) with 17 definitions. There more…
