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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (3526)	12/29/2007 5:58:31 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

Elitists seem to believe that money not taxed is money that government gives to people. I've never seen that notion expressed before. I've known plenty of people who support the significant redistribution of wealth but I've never heard anyone go as far as you suggest. I'm doubtful about it.

To: Peter Dierks who wrote (3526)	12/29/2007 9:49:34 PM
From: Mary Cluney	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

You are right, it is a basic philosophical issue. In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith wrote: The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. They find it difficult to get food, and the greater part of their little revenue is spent in getting it. The luxuries and vanities of life occasion the principal expense of the rich, and a magnificent house embellishes and sets off to the best advantage all the other luxuries and vanities which they possess. A tax upon house-rents, therefore, would in general fall heaviest upon the rich; and in this sort of inequality there would not, perhaps, be anything very unreasonable. It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion.[1] Ultimately it is about fairness and equal opportunity. Why should the grand children of Donald Trump and or Baron Hilton have advantages that your grandchildren do not have? What is wrong with policy that levels the playing field?