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Published Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Opinion

The role of the rich man

In a recent conversation with a seasoned citizen (relative of mine), she spoke of her animosity toward the rich, a common enemy of the social left in our society (not that she's a leftist, just a little cranky). This nice older lady was convinced most of our problems were created by, and therefore most social programs should be paid for by, those with a little extra cash.

I asked her, "Who would you rather work for, a rich man or a poor man?" She thoughtfully replied, "A rich man." I was on a roll, so I continued. Who buys the yachts, high-performance cars, electronic gadgets, gourmet dinners, opera tickets and up-scale houses? Before she could answer, I quickly followed-up with, "Do you think boat builders, assembly line workers, waiters/waitresses, ballet dancers and construction workers appreciate and directly benefit from the expenditures of the rich? Of course they do."

The wealthy in this country don't sit at their dining room tables sorting their massive pile of money. They invest their profits in financial ventures with the hope of growth and job creation. They contribute to foundations, contribute to charities and move these proceeds to tax shelters, all in the attempt to diminish the amount given to the government to be wasted by bureaucrats. Can you blame them?

Class envy and the redistribution of wealth are both socialist principles. Our present administration is attempting to change our Constitution and way of life, which is based on limited government and preservation of freedom.

We are not going to balance this $12 trillion national debt on the backs of the successful in this country. Which, by an ever-changing definition, the successful may be you.

W.J. Butcher

Newnan