Posted on 01/11/2003 1:43:29 AM PST by DWar
Friday, January 10 2003 CLASS WARFARE: "When the rich take from the poor, it's called an economic plan. When the poor take from the rich, it's called class warfare." This line is from Richard Cohen's recent attack in the Washington Post on the President's proposed economic plan. I would like Mr. Cohen and the rest of the closet socialists to explain to me exactly how "the rich take from the poor." It is one thing for thoughtful Democrats or moderate Republicans to criticize the President's plan for potentially exacerbating the deficit or for focusing the bulk of the tax relief on the wealthier in our society. That's fine, that's why we have two different political parties with two different ideological approaches on how best to grow jobs and create wealth. Most Republicans prefer the private sector as the engine of job growth which is why they generally support lower taxes and less government regulation on individuals and businesses. Most Democrats see the city, state and federal governments as more important to the well being of the nation and they in turn support a higher level of taxes and intrusion on the private sector.
The problem in the burgeoning debate over Bush's economic plan are the folks on the left who ratchet the debate up another notch by accusing the rich of stealing from the poor. These folks are socialists. Only a socialist could rationally accuse the Bush tax cut of two years ago and the current proposal as programs that permit "the rich to take from the poor." For in their heart, these people don't feel individuals have a right to 100% of their property and assets, if they did they wouldn't make stupid assertions that the rich are stealing form the poor. They honestly believe the state is "entitled" to a portion of anyone's income, wealth or property. This is important. This is the intellectual mindset that launched European Socialism in the 19th Century, which of course was followed by its evil twin, Communism, in the 20th Century.
The truth is 99% of the "rich" have far more taken from them via taxes than they receive back from the government. And 99% of the "poor" receive far more in benefits than they themselves ever contribute. But for socialism to succeed politically these facts are a serious obstacle. Because for socialists to come to power they have to get the poor to hate the rich. Class warfare rhetoric is designed to play on the natural human emotion of envy and is a powerful ally of the socialist movement, but to really get someone to hate you have to make them think the other guy is screwing with you. If you're poor, it is one thing to be envious of the rich guy in the big house, it's quite another to think that the rich guy got that house by stealing from you and your poor comrades.
The late 20th Century demise of Communism and a very successful post-WW11 run for capitalism and freedom around the world may have dulled the socialist embers. Defenders of freedom should be aware that the economic ideology of the left is not dead, its seeds are sprinkled throughout this world just waiting for the rain of the next serious capitalist downturn. The current tax debate may be an early opening act. John M. 6:43
It's long been said that "a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged." Could it be true? Will we need a rash of real, wide-scale predation, such as Chavez is inflicting upon Venezuela, to awaken the Left to the real import of their positions? Or would even that fail to faze them?
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
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