Tom,

This is not about class warfare. If you weren't mired in such dogma and actually addressed the fundamental issues you could see that. There is nothing wrong with becoming wealthy through honest work or even living off the fruits of past labor. Wealth is only a negative when it is used to subvert the process that is supposed to build it. You will not admit this is an issue so instead you try and turn it into the blatently incorrect line that wealth is bad.

That line is also pure bullshit coming from someone is in denial that Bush's tax cuts benefit primarily the rich. Criticizing the abuses of some wealthy individuals is "class warfare" in your view yet using wealth generated power and influence to gain economic benefit while passing on the cost to future generations is supposed to be a benign or even virtuous act.

As for this topic digressing off topic is your post was titled "Wealth Redistribution". Obviously aimed at the issue of higher incomes paying more taxes.

Still waiting for your justification on the growth in the income gap. Do you believe being rewarded by income far above everyone is not enough for those that build industy? They have to have the incentive of pulling away from everyone else to do what they do? Don't think so. I know the source of creativity well Tom, and it's not primarily about money its about doing something you are proud of. Economic motive alone may drive the hard working lot, but it is not the sole motivator of the creative lot.

Our economy is more vibrant than Europe's because in part of a more dynamic labor environment. This keeps our business more competitive. The downside is more cyclic layoffs. The upside is lower average unemployment. While you can make a case that the benefits are sufficient to justify the negatives, I feel a society that pays a collective price for supporting the victims of layoffs is a more just one. I'm against unlimited welfare and actually think mothers receiving government aid should be required to use long term methods of birth control so please don't label me a bleeding heart liberal.

I'd love to see the costs of entitlement programs cut but putting tax cuts for the wealthy at the front of the agenda and compounding deficits is not the way to start a fiscal reponsibility agenda. Give aways to the rich will not generate political will to take money from the poor.

Regards,
Mark