Columnist an embarrassment to Alabama

[Monkeyleg]

I get the Decatur Daily, although I don't know why. It's a small local rag and very left-wing.

Today their op-ed page had a column by their business columnist (!) slamming rich people.

The main thrust of his point is that people get rich because capitalism is a gift from the American people to rich people. Rich people have America to thank (true), and the little people who make capitalism possible. Take this statement, for example:

The truth, however, is that no capitalist succeeded on his own. He succeeded not just because of his talents, because he was fortunate enough to be born in a nation that has the laws and institutions necessary for capitalism to work.

As a people, we could end capitalism as surely as we created it. The ability to acquire and accumulate property is a gift of the American people, most of whom do not enjoy the advantages of wealth. It is a gift from the many to the few.

His logic is so twisted that Einstein's pet mouse couldn't find the cheese.

Let's see. We have 50% of the people paying no income taxes, while the top 25% pay roughly 75% of the taxes, and the top 1% pay more in income taxes than the entire bottom 90%. We have roughly 50% of the people in this country living in part or entirely on money from the government.

I'd say that, if there's any gifts being given, it's from the wealthy to the middle class and the poor. But I'm not a business columnist, so what do I know?

Rest of the column here

[Perd Hapley]

Arguments against high taxes on the wealthy or welfare programs for the poor, if based on how those policies affect capitalism’s benefit to the public, merit attention. If based on entitlement — that is, the successful capitalist’s entitlement to keep his riches — the arguments deserve little weight.

Moron. It is precisely because capitalism respects private property that it works. When you start regulating capitalism with laws designed to redirect property to those who don't use it to create more property, you lose both capitalism and its benefit to the public. You kill the goose and expect more golden eggs. Ayn Rand has your number.

Over the last two centuries, Americans — rich and poor — have built an elaborate network of laws and institutions designed to implement our economic system.

You should have said, "designed to permit an economic system," as everything you name as a part of that "system" describes how this "elaborate network" merely allows free people to keep what they have. You name nothing that "implements" wealth, so you provide no basis for the claim that the American people gave anything to the rich.

Instead, you say that the wealthy have nice things merely because we haven't stolen it from them. If we do steal it from them, they have no right to complain.

Stay classy, Eric.

[HankB]

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings;
the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
                                                                - Winston Churchill

[makattak]

Hobbesian.

He thinks that because the government doesn't step in and destroy their wealth, then anything they have is a gift.

The obvious corollary of that statement is that the American people would be right to take that wealth since they only have it by our beneficence, which is the entire point of pushing this line of thought.

He's wrong. The government of the American people have the power to take the fruits of those rich people's labor, but are no more responsible for those fruits than the NBA is responsible for the talent of Michael Jordan.

[Hutch]

Capitalism is an economic model the same way gravity is a law.  Not subject to repeal, sometimes defied, but it is the natural order of things.

Dimwit.

[TommyGunn]

Monkeyleg, why do you bother to read that utterly useless fishwrap?  You realize that when you buy the Decatur Daily you're feeding a bunch of ink-stained hyenas, right?   I mean, they're ugly, vicious, socialist trolls.  They're not human.
Stop doing that.  You will be happier for doing so.

[Monkeyleg]

TommyGunn, my wife wants it for the local news and the classified ads (for rummage sales). I read it because...wait, I can't think of a reason why I read it. Never mind.

[grampster]

Rant!  :What Monkeyleg said and more.  Those who rag on or are envious or bitter about wealthy people are uninformed idiots who are not useful to anyone.  I am being charitable in my statement and they should be confronted with their ignorance and hate. 

I love rich people.  I'm not one.  They make the world go round.  Do they get to take advantage of wealth?  Sure they do.  Why shouldn't they?  Are some of them selfish, self absorbed and even despicable?  Sure.  Are not those same qualities and sins spread around throughout the entire population?

The thing about rich people is that they use their wealth as a tool to make more money.  In doing so, the rest of us, if we have half a brain, can take advantage of that and make some for ourselves.  Do some of them hoard their wealth and hide it?  Certainly.  But the vast majority of them put their money to work and they do so for many reasons.

Here in W. Michigan we have a couple of the most wealthy people in America, the Van Andel and DeVos families;  Amway.  We also have a grocery chain billionaire as well as several other very wealthy multiple millionaires.  They have changed the face of the area for the good many times over in the last 30 years.  Thousands of people have jobs and live pretty well on account of these people.  We have entertainment venues, pro sport teams, a world class medical and research center that is probably getting to the level the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo clinic.  It's ranked in the top 10 nationally.  We have a medical school and a Law School.  We have a University than provides a top notch education, to say nothing of national champion sport teams.  I could go on.  The point is, the people who criticize the wealthy are fools and do more harm to America than good.

As far as an income tax goes, I've often said that anyone making over a million dollars a year should not have to pay any taxes; just file verification that they have invested in America at least at the level of the taxes they would have paid.  I have an idea that would be more valuable and efficient than giving the money over to the thieves, carpetbaggers and pettifoggers in the Congress who waste or misappropriate the larger portion.

I am a fan of the Fair Tax.  We are a nation of consumers, as well as providers, builders, entrepreneurs, traders etc.  The Fair Tax is perfectly tailored to our culture.  Everybody has a dog in the fight.  That's a good thing, even at the lower levels of the economic spectrum.  As for welfare, what I don't understand is this:  If I work and am compensated for my work it is not a gift.  I earned it.  If I don't work and am given tax money to aid me in a time of trouble, tell me why I should not have to exchange something for that support?  If a man does not work, he shall not eat.  Good notion, that.

End Of Rant.

[RocketMan]

^^^^^^^^What he said, in spades (except maybe for the fair tax thing, as I'm undecided whether it would work).^^^^^^^^

[birdman]

Did this columnist just paraphrase atlas shrugged? (and not the good parts?). Because, I swear those could be quotes from the looters.