Comments on: What’s Wrong with Redistributing the Wealth?

By: Poilu

Poilu — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:14:12 +0000

Hello, Hue!

Actually, I quite admire Huey Long. My Newman paraphrase — actually based on Randy’s reference to Lester Maddox in the song “Rednecks” (”Well, he may be a fool, but he’s our fool”) was merely in deference to the recognized criticisms of the Kingfish, such as the assertion that he built 3 million dollars worth of highways for the people of Louisiana with 8 million dollars of their money, or something like that. While it may be true, the “Old Guard” which preceded him did virtually nothing for the common people of the state. How much did they conceivably pocket while providing no real public service?

Many claimed he was a rascal. But the “crackers” certainly appreciated him. So do I.

Love your own quote above. That would be Huey, alright. :-)

By: Hue Longer

Hue Longer — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:57:38 +0000

Poilu,

when asked about if he was advocating socialism, he said something like, “hell no, I’m trying to avoid it” (I tried to remain silent with a Huey post, and failed…I see some flaws in him(as you too once pointed out with your Newman quote) I do have some American action heroes who I like even more for not knowing much about them other than their moral courage when it counted…Sitting Bull, Captain Fagen and Captain O’Reilley were some guys that the US should be proud of).

By: bambata

bambata — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:20:40 +0000

the perfectly conditioned slave must believe he is free

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:21:53 +0000

A nice article. I wish many in the US have the opportunity to read articles like this. As well, I also think this article can describe what Socialism is:
http://democracyandsocialism.com/Articles/ALittleTalkAboutSocialism.html

By: Chuckypita

Chuckypita — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:25:23 +0000

http://www.chuckypita.com/barack-obamas-redistribution-of-wealth-how-is-john-mccain-any-different-socialist-or-national-socialist/

I found that to be an appealing post. There’s no question that “redistribution of wealth” will be found to be a “good thing” to some and a “bad thing” to others….. the problem is the philosophy.

When we grant our government to legally plunder, we grant supreme power where it should not be placed.

Our founding fathers fought hard against this and now it is an everyday occurrence in our society. Unfortunately, until America sheds the FED – nothing will change.

Polarization will continue and America will sink further and further into debt.

Maybe this post will shed some light:http://www.chuckypita.com/barack-obamas-redistribution-of-wealth-how-is-john-mccain-any-different-socialist-or-national-socialist/

Thanks for your incredible post.

By: Jason Paul Oberg

Jason Paul Oberg — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:58:02 +0000

A superb article by Alan Maass. The American people would do well to realize that Socialism is not some insidious, sinister ideology. Rather, it is just what any intelligent, compassionate and sensible society requires and most definitely deserves. From the time we are old enough to listen, we are told in America that Capitalism is the way to go. We are force-fed this garbage that Socialism is the same thing as Communism, Fascism, and all those other supposedly evil forms of government. It is endoctrinated into us. Sadly, most Americans continue to buy into this propaganda throughout their lives. McCain comparing Obama to a Socialist is, for one thing, ridiculous, since he knows as well as anyone that Obama is just as much a corporate pig as he is. But it also is a grand example of the government’s presumption that we all hate and fear the idea of Socialism in America. Well, guess what, McCain? We don’t! On the contrary, we WANT socialized medicine! We WANT socialized child care! We WANT socialized college education! What a laughable example of how out of touch these multi-millionaire idiots are with the common American.

By: Poilu

Poilu — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:19:23 +0000

You know, it amazes me. Huey Long didn’t merely suggest “spreading the wealth around a bit” in his own immensely popular (and Populist) rhetoric; he directly proposed implementing a program to “SHARE the wealth”! Yet the Kingfish never considered himself a “Socialist”, just a man with a decent perspective on essential fairness! And his prescriptions — in theory, at least — still sound remarkably sensible today:

” Senator Huey Long: – ‘Share the Wealth’ ” [speech to Congress]
http://www.themoderntribune.com/governor_huey_long_speech_1934_share_the_wealth.htm

” ‘Share the Wealth’: Huey Long Talks to the Nation ” [radio broadcast]
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5109/

By: John Hatch

John Hatch — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:12:49 +0000

Modest tax cuts for the middle class: socialism.

A trillion dollar bailout for corrupt banksters: capitalist business as usual.

I’m always astonished at the sheer stupidity of it all.

Next we’ll hear that Sarah Palin is having an affair with Joe the Plumber.

And that amidst all the torture and murder.

By: brs

brs — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:48:54 +0000

If the republicans really believed that work and effort should be rewarded and that people should not be rewarded with things they did not earn then they would be proposing the complete abolition of the income tax which taxes the rewards people have worked for. At the same time they would tax inheritances at 100 percent because that is completely unearned. Instead they fight to the death to eliminate taxes on the gift of inheritance and let taxes on working people rise.

By: Guy

Guy — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:35:21 +0000

“But is that true? Does that square with the reality of most people’s lives? Think about the jobs that people you know have chosen, or the activities they volunteer to be part of, or the interests they pursue in the time they have to themselves — and ask if it’s true that they wouldn’t do anything useful for society but for the reward of big bucks or the threat of poverty?”

Of course it’s true. That’s why I am a teacher – I am in it for the big bucks.