A great letter from Dan Boudreaux (Cafe Hayek) about the Left’s "selective" outrage on inequality:
Like Michael Smith, I don’t suffer from the “Progressive” itch for income equality (Letters, Aug. 3). Not only does achievement of such “equality” require the state to treat people unequally, obsession with income equality also reflects a Scrooge-like fetish for money.
Consider a man who spends long hours at the gym. He does so for the same reasons that another man spends long hours at work: to gain an advantage and a sense of achievement. Are gym-man’s broad shoulders, bulging biceps, and ripped torso appropriate objects of envy by couch-potato man? Is this envy a social problem demanding government action? Should gym-man be scorned as greedy for working extra-hard to improve his physique – extra-hard work that likely wins gym-man disproportionate access to attractive mates? Should government force gym-man to share his beautiful babes with couch-potato man? Should gym-man’s muscles, or natural good looks, be taxed?
If we recognize that envy of other persons’ physiques is a sentiment deserving only ridicule, why do so many “Progressives” excuse – or even positively approve of – envy of other persons’ monetary assets?
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Greed is the word that is most used as a pejorative by the Left – I use another word: Envy. And then Theft.
It seems that if someone has been successful economically, they are always "Greedy" as in the movie "Wall Street". Yet, seldom will Progressive Politicians and Ideologues ever be honest with themselves and allow that they are envious of that success. Lesser, they will not admit to the legalized theft via laws and regulations that they will use in order to move that wealth to "the more deserving".
Like, man, who appointed them to be the arbiters of what is "fair", for Theft can never be fair?
