Comments Related To: Barack Obama: A most superior person has been elected President

Oh dear, has someone gone off his meds again?

"We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny." – Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln's own words... he is AGAINST redistribution of wealth... Obama's policies are based on redistribution of wealth "share the wealth" as he calls it. These two men are NOTHING alike!

Economic policies have to be considered in their social and historical context. In the 19th century, graduated income taxes, one person one vote and death duties were not acceptable. Today, however,in all the democracies, graduated income taxes and death duties are accepted as a legitimate and desirable way of bridging the gap between extreme wealth and poverty. A balance has to be struck between providing incentives to the entrepreneur who innovates and risks his capital, and leveling the playing field by providing a safety net to those unable to cope.
The present financial and economic crisis shows that the extreme form of the laissez faire, trickle down philosophies do not work. You may wish to see my previous articles on this website titled The Economist: Capitalism at Bay during the Financial Crisis; The American Taxpayer is between a rock and a hard place; and Global Economy Withers as Bush Administration Dithers.