Parable of Three Triplet Brothers and Community Cost Sharing

Introduction

A parable about three identical triplet brothers—Tom, Dick, and Harry—illustrates differing attitudes toward work, saving, and sharing community costs.

The Brothers’ Background

• Identity: Triplets named Tom, Dick, and Harry Class.
• Upbringing: Same home, same parents, identical IQ, skills, and opportunities.
• Family: Each married with two children.
• Occupation: All are carpenters earning $25 per hour.

Work Hours and Family Income

• Combined household incomes:
• Tom’s household: $25,000
• Dick’s household: $75,000 (carpenter + spouse)
• Harry’s household: $150,000 (carpenter + spouse)

Spending and Saving Habits

• Tom and Dick: Spend all family income, relying on Social Security for retirement.
• Harry and his wife: Consistently save a portion of their earnings and invest in stocks and bonds.

Housing Development and Street Improvements

• A new housing development opens in their community.
• Each brother purchases an equally‑priced home on the same private street.
• The three families decide to pool money to:
• Install a security gate at the street entrance.
• Repave the street surface.
• Enhance lighting and landscaping.
• Total cost: $30,000.

Dispute Over Cost Sharing

• Harry’s expectation: Split the bill three ways, $10,000 each.
• Tom and Dick’s objection: "Why should we pay the same as you? You make much more money than we do."
• Harry’s reply: "What does that have to do with anything?"
• Tom’s argument: "My family makes more money because we work long hours and have saved for investments. Why should we be penalized for that?"
• Dick’s counter: "Harry, you can work and save all you like, but my wife and I want to enjoy ourselves now, not 25 years from now."
• Tom’s retort: "Fine, Tom. Do what you want. It’s a free country. But why should I have to pay for that? I can’t believe you’re being so… unbrotherly."
• Dick’s mediation: Proposes a proportional split based on combined income.

Proposed Formulas

Dick’s Proportional Formula

• Combined income: $250,000.
• Percentage of total cost: $30,000 ÷ $250,000 = 12 % of each brother’s income.
• Payments:
• Tom: $3,000
• Dick: $9,000
• Harry: $18,000

Tom’s Alternative Formula (Citing the IRS Tax Tables)

• Proposed shares:
• Harry: $23,450
• Dick: $6,550
• Tom: $0

• Rationale: "From no less an authority than the U.S. government… It’s all right here in the IRS tax tables. This is the progressive income tax system all U.S. taxpayers live under, and I don’t see we should be any different."

• Dick’s reaction: Finds Tom’s proposal "completely arbitrary, and not really fair," but notes his own share would be $2,450 less than under his own formula, so he remains silent.

• Harry’s reaction: "You want me to pay almost 80 % of the bill despite the fact that each of us is receiving the exact same benefits? Where did you get such a crazy idea?"

Vote and Outcome

• Vote: Two‑to‑one in favor of Tom’s proposal (Tom and Dick).
• Result: Cost divided as Tom suggested: Harry pays $23,450, Dick $6,550, Tom $0.
• Aftermath:
• Tom and Dick are satisfied with the arrangement.
• Harry grumbles, and when he complains, his brothers label him "greedy and selfish."

Conclusion

The story ends with Tom and Dick living happily under their new cost‑sharing arrangement, while Harry remains dissatisfied, illustrating how differing views on fairness, work, and taxation can shape communal financial decisions.

The brothers’ dispute highlights how differing income levels and personal saving habits shape perceptions of fairness in shared community expenses. One brother’s proportional formula reflects an income‑based equity approach, while another’s proposal draws on tax policy to justify unequal contributions. The vote demonstrates how majority preference can override notions of proportional fairness, leading to outcomes that satisfy some parties but alienate others. Ultimately, the story shows that attitudes toward work, saving, and communal responsibility drive financial decisions and affect relationships within a community.