Monday, November 19, 2007

Obama knows it is a game of words

Barack Obama may not have much experience as a politician, but he has enough to know that politics is not always about what you say, but how you say it. One word can make a difference.

Recently Barack Obama has joined the rest of the democrats in supporting increased social security cap so that the rich pay their "fair share."

Isn’t it interesting every time the democrats need money they say the rich needs to pay their “fair share?” How high can you tax the rich before it is more than their fair share?

Anyways Obama says, "I think the best way to approach this is to adjust the cap on the payroll tax so that people like myself are paying a little bit more and people who are in need are protected." Come on rich folks it's just a little bit more! And look at all the people we need to protect!

Oh but it gets better folks, here is my favorite part. "I think a lot of us who have been fortunate are willing to pay a little bit more to make sure that a senior citizen who is struggling to deal with rising property taxes or rising heating bills, that they've got the coverage that they need."

Did you catch the key word there? The key word was “fortunate.” Now, for those of you who are long time fans and readers to my blog already know that Obama just made my country boy blood boil with his income redistribution rhetoric. We have been down this road in the past. (For new readers here is a MTCW Obama archive)

By using the word “fortunate” to describe the rich, Obama is promoting the idea that success in this country did not come from hard work, but from some kind of fortunate luck. Obama wants to paint the picture that becoming wealthy has nothing to do with sacrifice, or a strong work ethic. It has nothing to do with dedication or making smart choices. It is all about luck.

There is a reason for this. If Obama can convince you that high achievers are just lucky then his argument for income redistribution becomes easier. If wealth is determined by luck and not hard work then he is just evening out the playing field.

It is all about the words…

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