ENVY as a political ploy.
The latest strategy by the left and even some on the right is too point a middle finger at those that have "made it" under our system of capitalism. In the primary race in South Carolina we see the results of that sin called envy and it is now a political strategy!
Mitt Romney is a very rich man and he made it the hard way. He risked his capital over the years by buying companies and trying to make them work. Staples stores, one of which we have here in Grass Valley, was on the ropes and it was saved and expanded to become a office and computer giant with a whole bunch of employees. Staples and many other businesses were saved but along the way, Bain Capital had a few failures. It is politic as usual when critics take the few failures and use them to beat someone over the head with them while not mentioning the success. Disgusting tactics in my view and one of the reasons America has become a battleground of envy.
I expect this type of envy bashing success by the left but unfortunately there has been some on the right pressing what they think is a political advantage by going after people that have succeed as somehow "uncaring" "vulture capitalists" and whatever monikers they can come up with to denigrate success. What I don't understand is how these people can sleep at night.
Mitt Romney was pressed to expose his tax returns to the public scrutiny of all of us. This has somehow become a political requirement over the years and I suppose there is some benefit to allowing us to see such a private document. But the strategy of transparency has a double edge problem. Romney is a millionaire whose income is from investments. The rate of tax he pays is based on the "capital gains" rate of a maximum of 15%. Of course, to achieve a investment income a person has to invest. That is a risk of capital, it is capitalism. When a person works hard and achieves the success of their hard work, that person then becomes a target? What a sad day in our country when others turn success into envy and derision.
As soon as I listened to the ABC radio report yesterday on Romney agreeing to release his income tax, the reporter gleefully said "look at the difference" between the millionaire Obama who paid 25% in taxes and the 15% that piker (my word) Romney paid (the tone of the radio reporter was so biased). When I heard it I knew that would be the strategy the press and the left will use. Romney of courese has created over 100,000 jobs in companies he has restructured over the years. Obama has lost America a few million, yet the leftwing slobbering press and the Obama lackey's on TV programs will try to convince the people Romney is a mean, nasty vulture capitalist while Obama, their lovable community activist, is a caring teddy bear petting human. Sheesh!
I love the primary process because it is a last man/woman. standing endeavor and truly American. But we mst be careful in how we portray each other and how we speak of others. We all know negative campaigning works and with our national education monopoly dumbing down the citizens the political process is truly in jeopardy. The PC shoved down the throats of Americans over the years seems to me to be on hold when it comes to trashing conservative politicians running for office. Isn't that ironic? We are chastised by the PC crowd and press for questioning Obama's policies (by being accused of racism) yet the same press and PC affectionato's trash the very economic system and its proponents as "heartless" and "vultures".
Americans in my view have always desired to do better and become rich, now we have a cadre of envious people who simply want to take what the "rich" have without regard to work.
We have achieved absurdity in our discourse and desires. A sad and risky time for America.
