I own no envy of excessively wealthy thieves. I own terror for my son and his sons because of the plight our world is in.

Too bad we don’t have capitalism. I’m a big fan of it. We have elitist, government-sanctioned socialism that cycles money among the elite is not capitalism. Nor does it exist in cities where public systems are allowed profit margins or excessive pay for executive officers. No, Qwest tells me how much I pay, or I don’t get to type this. There is no capitalistic balancing of scales.

Though you sound defensive in your comment, I like your vision in your article: that we risk everything by cranking up credit. We do. I like real wealth, not pretend wealth (which, by the way is another foible of the excessively wealthy…they own lots of numbers!).

The concept of socialism, or economic justice, is widely taught in our schools as the natural evolution of a compassionate society. Politicians like to peddle the notion as a means of achieving fairness or equality. But, it never works out that way—unless making everyone equally poor was the goal. The whole scheme is nothing more than using Peter’s money to buy Paul’s vote.

Those duped into investing in the moral stance of socialism should consider the following. If I stick a gun in your ribs and demand your money, I have clearly committed theft. Yet, a socialist will perpetrate that same act and, merely because a politician is substituted for the gun, claim moral high ground. The fact is, the act is identical, only the legal status changed.

Free market economics, or voluntary exchange, is the exact opposite of socialism. It is a system in complete accord with the principles of liberty. Free markets encourage cooperation, risk-taking and innovation, while rewarding success and achievement.

No matter how selfish their motive, players in the free market must serve their fellow man with products and services so valuable, customers will willingly exchange their money. In order for any transaction to occur, it must be seen as mutually beneficial. The typical result is to satisfy the parties involved.

By contrast, when politicians and bureaucrats make decisions in our behalf, as socialists advocate, another set of dynamics come in to play. Since bureaucrats are not dealing with their own money, there is little motivation to get value for the dollars they spend. And, with decision makers largely insulated from the consequences of their actions, our satisfaction with the transactions they make in our behalf become hardly a consideration at all.

The temptation may be strong to accept the popular class warfare notions promoted by pandering politicians and their relentless media allies—that the rich attained their wealth by exploiting the poor. It then follows that unless we empower a modern day Robin Hood, individuals have no chance at prosperity.

But, citizens beware. While Robin Hood was a community organizer of sorts, he was a fierce enemy of the tyrants atop a powerful, central government. While Barack Obama wants you to believe that he is a new Robin Hood, a close inspection of his beliefs show a far greater resemblance to the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Economic liberty is a fundamental element of political liberty. It is the cornerstone principle from which the American Dream has been built. By trading it in for a false and immoral view of fairness, Americans will do nothing short of squandering their precious right to self-determination.

Read Ron@TheWisdomJournal´s lastest article – Standard of Living: The Next Bubble To Pop?

We have the highest standard of living in the world and it isn’t because we “spread the wealth.” It’s exactly the opposite. We encouraged the justice that comes from hard work. Just how much of YOUR wealth are you willing to let the government spread around?

Ask yourself one question: when has Obama EVER cut taxes? He’s letting the Bush tax cuts expire but refuses to say that it’s a tax increase. He cannot be trusted.

And on Warren Buffet…give me a break. He has no earned income. It’s all capital gains.

Read Ron@TheWisdomJournal´s lastest article – Standard of Living: The Next Bubble To Pop?

The trick they play is that they invite everyone to work hard and try to get rich, but they (the exuberantly wealthy) are just pulling you along.

Wake up.

Read Steven Robert Smith´s lastest article – Your Ultimatum

To reiterate on Katie Chin’s point, 98% of small businesses will see no increase in their taxes. Obama’s health care plan is NOT socialized medicine. It’s improving on existing systems – giving tax benefits to people for buying health insurance, and enlarging the existing high risk pool that the government already uses (COBRA) in order to lower cost. Small businesses that choose not to offer health insurance would pay a fee to help lower the cost on that high risk pool.

It’s true that someone will need to oversee this system, but it will fall to existing agencies like the IRS to ensure that this is running smoothly.

Socialism is an unfortunate word that has too much negativity tied to it. Obama’s plan is not socialism or redistribution in the traditional sense of the word. It is merely expanding on existing systems.

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You said,”There is an enormous amount of opportunity in this country. If not, then why are so many people from other nations still trying to immigrate here? Also, it seems that there are a ton of success stories of how people from other countries come here without anything only to build a successful business in just a few years.” I point out that the people immigrating to North America do not come from countries where there are social programs to aid them. People from Denmark, Canada, and other “socialistic” countries see their country as superior. Those advantages are precisely why the League of Nations voted these countries as the best places in the world to live. The US is a ways down on the list and it’s because of the lack of wealth distribution.

Many come looking for greater opportunity and thankfully they find it. But those people are usually coming from poorer countries.

I feel very blessed to be doing ok financially. We live simply, but we live well. I am very willing to pay high taxes to help my neighbor who works 12 hours a day as a cab driver trying to take care of his family. Frustrating to see the lazy guy drawing a gov’t check? Absolutely. But I prefer his cheating the system than the poor, elderly, and sick doing without the basics.

Great food for thought Jeff. Thanks.

Read valerie´s lastest article – Psalm 23