redistribution of wealth

When there are a lot fewer rich people to soak?

The number of American households with a net worth of $1 million or more, excluding the value of their primary residence, fell 27% to 6.7 million in 2008 from an all-time high of 9.2 million the year before, according to a report from market research firm Spectrem Group

Notice this occurred before we had a whole bunch of rich folks "going Galt"   This was just due to the drop in equity and real estate values.

Message to Obama and co. If you want to have rich people to soak in order to pay for all your fun stuff, hmmm, maybe that means we need to have....hmmm ...rich people.

Maybe letting the Bush tax cuts hang around until there's , a hmmm a recovery  might work better than getting rid of them in the middle of a economic crisis?

Of course, if income equality is the new holy grail, don;t bother. The one way to ensure income equality is to enact policies that make sure no one has any money.  And some people think you've done a splendid job on that front already.

Bill Smith, Editor: Like most Americans, I identify with Joe the Plumber who wants to work, invest, own and seek the American dream of being successful. But, we are faced with a government that wants to tax our success for working hard to support others who have settled for less - government handouts - and thus live off the labors of "us." I'm not talking about those who can't work or are temporarily down on their luck through no fault of their own. But I am tired of government people, like Sen. Barack Obama, who want to to take my money and then redistribute (give) my money to those who can work to provide for themselves and those under their care. I especially don't like their giving my money to those who made past mistakes, made poor decisions or are just plain are lazy and now want to avoid the consequences of their actions, laziness, mistakes or poor decisions. Also, have you noted that while taxing "us" for working, the government keeps their "operational cut" which tends to grow over time. I join Joe the Plumber is saying Don't tax me for working hard or for having worked hard to save for my family's future!