This came originally as an email from a friend of mine of UK origin. The resulting text was a mess of undecipherable references to pounds and maths and lorry’s and other such British non-sense. I’ve translated the text in to “real” English. I don’t know the original origin of the text but thought I’d share:
1. Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of timber for $100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
Your assignment: What is his profit?
2. Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of timber for $100.
His cost of production is 80% of the price.
Your assignment: What is his profit?
3. Teaching Math In 1990
A logger sells a truckload of timber for $100.
His cost of production is $80.
Your assignment: How much was his profit?
4. Teaching Math In 2000
A logger sells a truckload of timber for $100.
His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
5. Teaching Math In 2005
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habit of animals or the
preservation of our woodlands.
Your assignment: Discuss how the birds and squirrels might feel as the logger cut down their homes just for a measly profit of $20.
6. Teaching Math In 2009
A logger is arrested for trying to cut down a tree because it might be
offensive to Muslims or other religious groups not consulted in the
original timber cutting license. He is also fined a $100 as his chainsaw is in breach of Health and Safety legislation as it is deemed too dangerous and could cut something. He has used the chainsaw for over 20 years without incident however he does not have the correct certificate of competence and is therefore considered to be a recidivist and habitual criminal. His DNA is sampled and his details circulated throughout all government agencies. He protests and is taken to court and fined another $100 because he is such an easy target.
When he is released he returns to find ACORN has cut down half his wood to build a camp on his land. He tries to throw them off but is arrested, prosecuted for harassing an ethnic minority, imprisoned and fined a further $100.
While he is in jail ACORN cuts down the rest of his wood and sells it on the black market for $100 cash. They also have a celebration of BBQ squirrel and pheasant, and depart leaving behind several tons of garbage and asbestos sheeting. The lumberman on parole is warned that failure to clear the fly swarmed garbage immediately at his own expense is an offense. He complains and is arrested for environmental pollution, breach of the peace and invoiced $12,000 (plus tax) for safe disposal by a regulated government contractor.
Your assignment: How many times is the logger going to have to be
arrested and fined before he realizes that he is never going to make
$20 profit by hard work, give up, sign onto welfare and live off the
state for the rest of his life?
7. Teaching Math In 2010
A logger doesn’t sell a truckload of timber because he can’t get a
loan to buy a new truck because his bank has spent all his and their
money on a derivative of securitized debt related to sub-prime mortgages in Alabama and lost everything with only some government money left to pay a few million dollars in bonuses to their senior directors and the traders who made the biggest losses. The logger struggles to pay the $1,200 road tax on his old truck however, as it was built in the 1970s it no longer meets emissions regulations and he is forced to scrap it.
Some Mexican loggers buy the truck from the scrap merchant and put
it back on the road. They undercut everyone on price for haulage and
send their cash back home, while claiming unemployment for themselves and their relatives. If questioned they speak no English and it is easier to deport them at the governments expense. Following their vacation back home they return to the US with different names and fresh girls and start again. The logger protests, is accused of being a bigoted racist and as his name is on the side of his old truck he is forced to pay $1,500 in registration fees as a small business owner.
The Government borrows more money to pay more to the bankers as
bonus’s are not cheap. Congress feels they are missing out and claim the difference on expenses and allowances.
Your assignment: You do the math.
8. Teaching Math 2017 
Thanks KB for the content.