Joe the Plumber, meet Adam Smith

[abumbyanyothername]

"The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. . . . 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 which they possess. . . . IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE THAT THE RICH SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC EXPENSE, NOT ONLY IN PROPORTION TO THEIR REVENUE, BUT SOMETHING MORE THAN IN THAT PROPORTION."

From Steven Coll in The New Yorker.

[PBS Poll-435]

1. The Wealth of Nations = The Communist Manifesto

Sarah P. told me.

She promised that she read both.

She reads anything put in front of her.

[patrice]

2. BECAUSE that's good Economics, i.e. it's GOOD for business!

[TornadoTN]

3. Clearly, Adam Smith is a communist sympathizer and should be investigated as an Anti-American

Of course, that would mean actually reading a book that wasn't written by Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Riely, or Coulter, so I think they'll just keep making the claim.

[specialed]

4. Thats what a true patrioit does.

[The Magistrate]

5. Mr. Smith, Sir, Is Clear And Emphatic On The Subject

His view of the matter is that the cost of government ought to be borne in proportion to the benefit derived from it, and he makes no bones about stating that the more wealth one possesses, the more benefit one derives from government, since government's principal activity is keeping those who own property and wealth secure in their possession of it against those who would take it. He sees very little benefit that laborers and the propertyless actually derive from government, and therefore considers it unfair to attempt to press any great portion of its upkeep upon them.

[abumbyanyothername]

6. I agree. nt

[damntexdem]

7. Please be respectful! That's Adam the Political Economist!

But he was a pre-Marxist, wasn't he? ;-)