“My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” ~ Barack Obama

Wealth redistribution is a subject that I just don’t get.  Maybe somebody can explain it to me.  How is it fair to take money from people that have rightfully earned it and give it to others who did nothing for it?  Will this really improve anything?  Apparently, Barack Obama thinks so.

I know that I’m venturing off into dangerous territory here because many will think that I’m slipping off into politics.  I’m really not.  This has nothing to do with Democrats or Republicans.  I really just want to make the point that we are not a socialistic society.  I want to protect our individual right to earn and give our money as we see fit. 

We are empathetic to people’s needs, but the majority in this country have always believed in the basic premise that “if you want to eat, you should work.”  Is it callous and cold-hearted to believe people should pull their own weight?

The government should not redistribute our wealth

Doesn’t it scare you even a little to think that our government could get involved to a larger degree in spreading our money to others?  I mean we already do this in a lot of ways. 

All social programs including social security, unemployment, and welfare collect your money in the form of taxes and then redistribute it to others.  Generally, helping a neighbor down on his luck or that has worked and contributed to the common good his entire life is not a bad thing.  However, doesn’t it seem we have created a whole segment of the population that feels entitled to these benefits now?  I’m not a fan of creating more of the same.

I don’t think we want to pay the 40% plus tax rates that are found in many countries that use the wealth redistribution approach.  This is the way it is in countries like Germany, Belgium and Denmark where they have universal healthcare and many other such programs.  Is this really what we want?

Of course, a large part of our taxes are spent on good things.  The government uses much of our tax dollars to pay for things like roads, the military, law enforcement, etc.  These programs benefit us all and I’m sure we want to continue these.  I’m certainly not against working together for a better country.  Again, I just think we all need to pull our own load.  Is this wrong?

I don’t see why a person that has spent their blood, sweat and tears building up a business over his/her lifetime should now be penalized because they’ve accumulated a nice income and a pile of cash in the bank.  Is my thinking wrong on this?

It is not wrong to be rich!

Where did some people get the idea that it is wrong to accumulate wealth?  The power, influence, and status this country has enjoyed for many years is largely a result of our wealth.  Having the freedom to own land and be rich is a right that we fought to get.

I know that some people have gone wrong and become overly greedy.  I don’t like hearing about CEOs of failing companies getting rich off the deal anymore than anyone else does.  However, we deserve a reminder that people at all economic levels make mistakes and fall to greed.  There is no reason to throw out the baby with the bath water!  There are some very generous rich people out there doing good things with their money.  It isn’t wrong to have wealth or want it, is it?

I don’t understand why some people automatically think negatively of people that have money.  Money is not dirty.  It is not wrong to have it.  Could the problem be envy?  I know I have thought negatively of others just because I was jealous of what they’ve achieved.  Of course, this is no reason that their stuff should be taken from them and given to me.  Do you think rich people deserve some sort of economic penalty for their achievement?

Let’s encourage people to work and build businesses

There is still opportunity in America to work and achieve success.  It is still possible to succeed by starting with hardly anything and without knowing anyone of influence.  It just takes work. 

The problem is that many people do not want to work.  Doesn’t it seem like they’d rather wait for the government to take care of them?  Why should my hard earned money be taken from me via programs that I don’t agree with and given to others that aren’t working?  Will this really lead to a better America?

It seems to me that instead of redistributing wealth, we should be encouraging people to start their own businesses.  We should give breaks to the regular guy that shows up from 9 to 5 everyday of his life and works hard to put food on the table for his family.  This is the majority of America.

We are a country of people that aren’t afraid to work.  We are innovative, resourceful, and proud.  In fact, I hope we are still too proud to take undeserved handouts.  I hope we still believe in an honest day’s wages for an honest day’s work.  I hope we still believe in the freedoms we have fought so hard to get.  No matter who we elect as President, I hope we choose to preserve the opportunities that have made America great!

“If there is anything which it is the duty of the whole people to never entrust to any hands but their own — that thing is the preservation of their own liberties and institutions.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

What am I missing about Senator Obama’s plan to spread the wealth around?

Photo by Simon Davison