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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (23895)	7/13/2006 7:26:40 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541376

Oh, I screwed up. Marx said, "from each according to their means."

To: Lane3 who wrote (23895)	7/13/2006 10:24:53 AM
From: mph	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541376

The switch from "ability" to "means" in the attributed quote was probably because the comment was in the context of tax policy. The underpinning of the Marxist phrase was that each would work to the best of his/her ability. I don't think the concept was necessarily economic or monetary. Rostenkowski was simply saying that those with the money should pay and those without it should receive what they need. Just another variant on the "tax the rich" theme. However the phrase was worded, it brings to mind the Marx/Communist reference and can therefore be off-putting. Frankly if everyone were required to produce to the best of his or her ability, and to pay taxes in accordance with such productivity, the tax coffers would be quite full, and perhaps the "need" side of the equation would be less "needy." Just goes to show why grand philosophies don't work in the real world.