international house: Here's a story for Conservatives: Once upon a time there were 2 people, John and Alex, and they both had EXACTLY the same wealth and income. John received a full scholarship to a highly respected university, majored in finance and minored in computer science, received an MBA grad degree from George Mason University (GMU), obtained multiple licenses, published various textbooks, and worked long hours during college to pay off loans..... he now lives very happily with his wife and they earn a family income of $35,000 and they give to charity and he works long hours....for the greater good of all humanity. Alex is a different character altogether. Alex was a punk rocker in high school and dropped out of school at age 15, got caught up in marijuana and got drunk a lot.....he then joined hippie activists and they begged people to let them move into their homes and they'd watch a lot of TV and eat doritoes....then he started playing 4-string guitar like really badly but creatively sing poetic lyrics... At age 23, Alex finally got a job at McDonalds and dreamed about being a rock musician and had a hard time getting girls because he didn't shower very often. Alex then got overdosed and dropped out of McDonalds and went on Welfare from the Government, who offered him lifelong payments of $35,000 until he can replace the welfare with a job. So both John and Alex would make EXACTLY the same amount of wealth and be happy in their own lives through a system of redistribution of wealth. Why can't we implement this system across America? John and Alex would be in the same class of wealth and become friends.|||No, because if I were John, I'd be so furious at Alex it would take every ounce of energy I had not to strangle him for taking what he didn't work for. Worse, Alex's choices are what put him where he is, so why should John be FORCED to pay for it? Go live in the "communist utopia's" that already exist. I like living under the Constitution.|||Government doesn't produce anything, private enterprise does. Taking my money and giving to Joe down the street doesn't expand the economy, it simply transfers money between parties. "The problem with Socialism is you eventually run out of someone else's money to spend."|||LOL. Stealing is stealing|||you do realize overdose results in death right. And I don't believe anyone wants a complete redistribution of wealth. Just helping out those with less money.|||You didn't explain where the money comes from to pay each of the people in your imaginary two-person world. The academic would have to pay 100% income taxes for the junkie to get his welfare, so the academic would starve to death.|||Right up to the point where John decides to party with Alex and then there won't be any more money to distribute.|||You forget the part where alex founds "Guns and Roses" and becomes a multi-millionaire.|||well said|||I bet John doesn't invite Alex to his cook outs. Redistribution of wealth simply tramps on the principles of hard work and self-reliance.|||And you're not afraid of Government legalized THEFT ? Amazing.....|||John has an MBA and all he makes is $35,000?|||Ok, nap time kids, put your story books away....|||Very funny now let me tell you a story 10 men decided to have a business lunch once a week. They always met in the same restaurant and the bill was always, $100.00, for all 10 men. If each man was responsible for his share of the bill that would be, $10.00, each. The men decided to divide the bill based upon their ability to pay. Using an agreed upon formula the following payment arraignment was worked out based upon income. Men 1-4 who made the least amount of money paid nothing. Man 5 paid $ 1.00 Man 6 paid $ 3.00 Man 7 paid $ 7.00 Man 8 paid $12.00 Man 9 paid $18.00 Man 10 paid $59.00 After several weeks the owner of the restaurant told the men that because they were such good customers he was reducing the bill by $20.00. Their delimina was how to divide up the, $20.00. If each person got the same amount then the first 4 men would be getting money back but they never paid anything for the dinners. After much discussion and no resolve the owner offered the following suggestion which they all agreed to. Original Payment New Payment $ Amount Saved % Saved Men 1-4 paid $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $0.00 0% Man 5 paid $ 1.00 $ 0.00 $1.00 100% Man 6 paid $ 3.00 $ 2.00 $1.00 33% Man 7 paid $ 7.00 $ 5.00 $2.00 28% Man 8 paid $12.00 $ 9.00 $3.00 25% Man 9 paid $18.00 $14.00 $4.00 22% Man 10 paid $59.00 $50.00 $9.00 15% Once out side the men began to argue about the settlement. Man 5 said he only got, $1.00, while Man 10 received, $9.00. Men 1-4 were upset because the received nothing. They said that the cut only benefited the rich and the poor got nothing. They were upset so they beat up Man 10 and left him. The next week they met for lunch as usual except man 10 did not show up. When the new bill arrived the men discovered that between them they did not have enough money to pay even half of the bill. 80% of the taxes are paid by 20% of the people highest income people. Any time you have a tax cut the people who pay taxes are going to get the money. The next time you hear of a tax cut and the media tells you that the wealthy are getting all the money, remember they are paying the taxes.|||Well there just a few flaws in your logic. John is working his butt off and will not remain happy or employed if he sees that he can be a f'up and have more time with his family. When all the john's of the world stop working-VIOLA! you've run out of other people's money because John is no longer contributing to Alex's welfare. You like the idea? Please send me $35,000.00 in cash.|||I hope this was a facetious question.|||Because it's Robbery. I want others to work hard like me not live off my success.