Nothing is more central to Marxist thought than class envy. The argument is simple: The rich got what they have unfairly so a central authority is needed to make things fair again. This line of reasoning has been extended to other groups as well, especially women and ethnic minorities.
The problem with this thinking is that the central authority–government–must violate individual property rights to remedy the alleged unfairness. When the wealth one accumulates is subject to redistribution, the incentive to acquire it wanes. Many would-be productive citizens determine that it’s just not worth the extra effort to make their own way if the government will take care of them should they choose not to. Add to this the abilities of Congress to overspend and the Fed to inflate the currency and you have a good picture of the current “state of the union.” A lack of incentive has led to a decline in productivity.
Unfortunately, I suspect that President Obama will present a different picture in his State of the Union address. As you listen, I encourage you to track his effort to play the “class envy” card. Words and phrases like “the rich,” “fair share,” “playing by the rules,” “responsibility to others,” and “social justice” are subtle hints that you would have more if the “dog eat dog” world of capitalism were reigned in by government. If the rich would just “pay their fair share”…
This is not a joke. Class envy is a powerful political tool. The leftist candidate wants to convince you that your neighbor has a new car because “unbridled capitalism” enabled him to succeed at your expense. While attacking your neighbor’s lack of morality, he tugs on your own propensity for greed and envy. YOU deserve the car–not your neighbor–and if you vote for the leftist he will use the tax code or other government programs to redistribute your neighbor’s wealth and make things fair again. It’s an emotional argument and can be quite persuasive to those who don’t spend the time to give it serious thought.
Class envy is a key part of the foundation for the socialist economic agenda. We must to a better job of identifying and exposing this false premise to the electorate. The President’s speech this evening will probably give us a great text to work with.
I can hear it now.
***we inherited a bad economy***
***if the evil rich paid more taxes we could have more jobs***
***we need to spend more on infrastructure to put people back to work***
I don’t think I can take much more of Obama’s spin.
I couldn’t stomach the speech, but the highlights show that you were spot on. The rhetoric was the same class warfare we always hear, and those that seek to live of the work of others will always support the hands that feed them. I’ve heard them refered to as “mailboxers”…those that survive by walking to their mailbox. This is growing into an electoral fight between those that put the mail in the box, and those that take it out.
I just heard James Clyburn (my representative, sadly) unapologetically defend the fact that 46% of Americans don’t pay any income taxes. He said if they don’t make any money, they shouldn’t have to pay. Neil Cavuto said, no if they don’t make money they don’t have to file and wouldn’t be counted in that number. But Romney only paid 14% and didn’t even work. But sir, Romney was investing money for which he had already paid taxes at the top bracket. Yes but he has money in a Swiss bank account…
You are so right. It is class warfare, pure and simple. Clyburn et al are gearing up. This is their major platform, everything else is a diversion. And it is a powerful one. The reason you are worse off is because someone else is better off. How hard a sell is that with half the voters who don’t pay taxes? And are getting an additional “tax break” through payroll taxes.
If you don’t believe class warfare has an ugly outcome, watch “Dr Zhivago” starring Omar Shariff.