Robin Hood Obama: Socialism, Communism and Spreading the Wealth

Spread the Wealth:
Makers and Takers
Red Planet Cartoons


[Click image to enlarge]

---

Spread the Wealth 101


Spread the Wealth education time, courtesy of Red Planet Cartoons. Makers and Takers (Updated)

RPC starts off with Scott Johnson: A Call To ‘Spread The Wealth’ Around Is An Old – And Dangerous – Theme.

When Barack Obama responded to the Ohio plumber who didn’t want his taxes raised by saying that he wanted to “spread the wealth around,” I wanted to tell the Illinois senator to spread his own wealth around.

Senator Obama, in a rare moment of candor, all but told “Joe the plumber” that his wealth should be seized in the name of equity. Their personal encounter this past Sunday played out one of the old themes of democratic politics: the appeal to the many to take from the few. It’s traditionally an easy sell in democratic regimes.
...
Given that poorer citizens always outnumber the rich, political philosophers have long worried that government based on majority rule could lead to organized theft from the wealthy by the democratic masses. “If the majority distributes among itself the things of a minority, it is evident that it will destroy the city,” Aristotle warned.

The Founders of the United States shared Aristotle’s worry. Up through their time, history had shown all known democracies to be, as James Madison put it, “incompatible with personal security or the rights of property.” Madison and others therefore made it a “first object of government” to protect personal property from unjust confiscation.

Red Planet follows up with a hard right to the jaw of socialist thought with Neal Bortz's Class Warfare - The Evil Rich and The Glorious Poor.

The left has mastered the dark art of conducting a class-warfare campaign. First and foremost, you must dispel any notion that those who are rich actually got that way through hard work. Americans at all income levels admire hard work and almost universally believe that those who work hard should be rewarded. To make the class-warfare efforts bear fruit, the left must convince the middle- and lower-income Americans that they are the only ones who are really working for their income.

This is why you constantly hear Democrats refer to lower- and middle-income earners as “working people” or “working families.” The unspoken premise here is that if you are in the upper-income levels, you don’t work. You’re not one of the “working people.” To the class warrior, the only true work is work that is done with muscle. Working with your brain isn’t work…

Yogi at RPC comments that he's been under the weather.

Oh no!

RPC is undoubtedly become one of the leaders of political cartooning on the web. DBKP's wishes for a speedy recovery go out to the moving force behind Red Planet Cartoons.

This is not "Spreading the Wealth for Dummies; spreading the wealth is for dummies.

When you take from those who work to get ahead, you signal to those trying to get ahead that their proper attitude should be 'What's the use?'

When work and ingenuity is uncoupled from profit and monetary reward, workers quit working and the government's take--and everyone's--becomes smaller. Americans work hard to advance themselves and provide for their families and future.

American society and economy has worked well because there are lots of makers, fewer takers. When more people put their hands out, things begin to break down. Americans work hard for themselves and their families--NOT for the government.

As workers in the former Soviet Union used to joke, "They [the government] pretend to pay us and we pretend to work."


by Mondo Frazier
image: Red Planet Cartoons
Source: Makers and Takers (Updated)

Obama's Global Poverty Act: Spreading U.S. Wealth Around the World

“Election ‘08: Before friendly audiences, Barack Obama speaks passionately about something called “economic justice.” He uses the term obliquely, though, speaking in code — socialist code.”
--Investor’s Business Daily Editorial



"According to IBD, the bipartisan bill would require the president "to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the U.S. foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day."

The "Millennium Development Goal" refers to a United Nations declaration adopted by the U.N. Millennium Assembly and Summit in 2000 that calls for "the eradication of poverty" by "redistribution (of) wealth and land," cancellation of "the debts of developing countries" and "a fair distribution of the earth's resources."
--Edward Cline, Obama's Global Poverty Act

---

Barack Obama's Global Poverty Act:
Spreading U.S. Wealth Around the World

As 'hard-core capitalists', DBKP would have been marked for extermination by Bill Ayers--if Ayers had ever bombed his way to power.

Ayers traded in his bombs for a grant writer's pen. Ayers hit the jackpot when he hired a young lawyer to administer his Chicago Annenberg Challenge.

That young lawyer's name was Barack Obama.

Big Media won't talk about Obama's many ties to socialism and communism--Ayers wrote in "Prairie Fire" that his movement was unabashedly "communist.

References to early Obama associations have been scrubbed from the Internet.

Obama's still refused to release his college and university records and a media which was hot for George Bush's college records and John McCain's medical records, has maintained a lockstep silence over the lack of the same records from Barack Obama.

A John Edwards-esqe cone of silence by the Mainstream Media on these records. The MSM is/has been intent on apologizing, explaining away, whitewashing and comforting voters who may have misgivings over the many questionable relationships and alliances Barack Obama has chosen over the years.

Alliances which shed light on Barack Obama.

Another story that is not getting much ink these days concerns the one bill that Barack Obama has proposed in the U.S. Senate--along with Chuck Hagel and Maria Cantwell: the Global Poverty Act.

The bill was the subject of a strong editorial in Investor's Business Daily of February 28, 2008, "Obama's 0.7% Solution For Poverty Gets Pass from Senate Republicans." According to IBD, the bipartisan bill would require the president "to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the U.S. foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day."

The "Millennium Development Goal" refers to a United Nations declaration adopted by the U.N. Millennium Assembly and Summit in 2000 that calls for "the eradication of poverty" by "redistribution (of) wealth and land," cancellation of "the debts of developing countries" and "a fair distribution of the earth's resources." The IBD reports that "The Millennium project is monitored by Jeffrey D. Sachs, a Columbia University economist. In 2005 he presented then-U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan with a 3,000-page report based on the research of 265 so-called poverty specialists. "Sachs' document criticized the U.S. for giving only $16.5 billion a year in global anti-poverty aid. He argued that we should spend an additional $30 billion a year in order to reach the 0.7% target that the U.N. set for the U.S. in 2000....Sachs said that the only way to force the U.S. to commit that much money is by a global tax, such as a tax on fossil fuels [oil, coal, natural gas]." The tax would be imposed not only on their production, but on their use, as well. Among other consequences, Americans would be impoverished for the purpose of reducing poverty abroad by 0.7 percent of the U.S.'s gross domestic product.
--Edward Cline, Obama's Global Poverty Act

---

OBAMA and SOCIALISM

* Barack Obama, Socialist: Obama a Member of Socialist New Party
* Obama: Candidate and MSM Won’t Report Obama’s Socialist Ties
* Obama, Bill Ayers: Ayers Wanted to Kill 25 Million Die-Hard Capitalists
* MSM Education of John Q. Public: Socialism is Code Word for Black
* Obama Tax Plan: We’re Going to Spread the Wealth Around

* Obama Video Shows Pattern Of Socialist Lingo, Socialist Ties

---

Barack Obama's record in the U.S. Senate is that he is the most liberal member of that legislative body.

Quite an achievement for a relatively new member of the Senate; a man who "had only been in the Senate 143 days before announcing for president."

Obama's signature piece of legislation in the U.S. Senate is the proposed Global Poverty Act. The Global Poverty Act would transfer almost a trillion dollars from the United States to poor people the world over.

It's stated goal: to cut world poverty in half by 2015--using billions of U.S. taxpayers' money.

* McCain Works on Financial Crisis While Obama Touts $845 Billion Global Poverty Bill Funded by US Taxpayers
* Obama, Hagel, Cantwell: Fighting Global Poverty–One Speech at a Time

The Global Poverty Act of 2007 also had Republican backers; they will bear responsibility for their support.

But only one of the bill's backers is running for president: Barack Obama.

If the Global Poverty Act becomes law--it's already passed the Democrat House--Barack Obama will certainly "spread the [U.S. taxpayers'] wealth around".

It will take from the U.S. taxpayers--Joe the Plumber, Suzy the Homemaker, Phil the Bricklayer, Terry the Teacher and all the rest--and give it to countries around the world.

It will then be up to these countries, many run by dictators who are to blame for their people's lack of wealth, to spread the U.S. taxpayers' wealth around. Wealth that was earned in our capitalist system will be transferred to many who live under systems which are antagonistic to capitalism and wealth creation.

Good luck with all that.

The Obama campaign says that calling Barack Obama a "socialist" is a failed tactic, reserved for the evil troika of Fox News, the Drudge Report and the McCain campaign.

What is the intent of the Obama's Global Poverty Act?

It's part of a socialist vision that penalizes wealth creation, takes from those who earn and gives it to those who don't.


by Mondo Frazier
image: RidesAPaleHorse

Mainstream Media and Socialism: The Education of John Q. Public

Leftist decry "socialist" as code for Black
Consevative Punk

---

The "Racist" Meme Continues


They're reaching on the "code word" smear more and more. You knew it was only going to be a matter of time until some schmuck said that "socialist" is code word for Black. Well, the wait is over. This from The Star in Kansas City:

The "socialist" label that Sen. John McCain and his GOP presidential running mate Sarah Palin are trying to attach to Sen. Barack Obama actually has long and very ugly historical roots.

J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI from 1924 to 1972, used the term liberally to describe African Americans who spent their lives fighting for equality.

Those freedom fighters included the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who led the Civil Rights Movement; W.E.B. Du Bois, who in 1909 helped found the NAACP which is still the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization; Paul Robeson, a famous singer, actor and political activist who in the 1930s became involved in national and international movements for better labor relations, peace and racial justice; and A. Philip Randolph, who founded and was the longtime head of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and a leading advocate for civil rights for African Americans.

This most laughable aspect of this charge, is that author Lewis Diuguid expects us to believe that something like J. Edgar Hoover's use of the word socialist to describe blacks is somehow fresh in the minds of Americans, leading it to be the natural connection we make when we hear the word. Not to mention that W.E.B. Du Bois was in fact a socialist.

Bravo on being the first to the bottom Mr. Diuguid.

---

WANT MORE of rizzuto and Conservative Punk? Try these recent posts:
* Code Pink attempts to arrest Karl Rove
* Obama Supporter Assaults Female McCain Volunteer in NY

---

by rizzuto
image: nextup
Source: Leftist decry "socialist" as code for Black

Obama Tax Plan: We Are Going to Spread Wealth Around

Obama Explains Tax Plan to Ohio Plumber
Obama: "Spread the Wealth Around"



Smells Like Socialism

---

I’ve never been a big fan of Penn & Teller, but today, I have to say I’m a fan of a new video released today that includes their commentary on Barack Obama’s socialist plans to turn the United States into a Marxist wasteland.

[Note: The original Penn & Teller version has been pulled for some reason; therefore, I substituted another video showing Obama explaining away his tax play.]

Incredibly, the video captures the Democratic Party presidential nominee using the words "spread the wealth around" during his response to a question asked by Joe Wurzelbacher of Toledo, Ohio. The 34-year-old plumber asked Obama, point blank, "Your new tax plan's going to tax me more, isn't it?"

If this doesn't scare you, nothing will: Higher taxes, wealth redistribution and a socialist airhead in the White House.

WANT MORE Bob McCarty, "The Ultimate Blogging Machine"? Try these recent posts: * Twelve ‘Dinosaurs’ Endorse Barack Obama * It’s Time for John McCain to Wage 4th-Quarter Rally * Obama’s Ties to ACORN Run Long and Deep

by Bob McCarty
image: Bob McCarty Writes
Source: Obama Explains Tax Plan to Ohio Plumber

Bolivia: Is Civil War Coming to South America?

Ruben Costas, center, governor of Santa Cruz, celebrates as the Bolivian region declares autonomy Saturday.

Hugo Chavez's vision for a South American socialist paradise was dealt a blow Saturday.

Not often seen in the Western Hemisphere, is a full-blown civil war coming to Bolivia?

Four regions declared their autonomy from the central government Saturday and people waved Santa Cruz flags in the streets--not Bolivian ones.

The regions produce the most natural gas for cash-strapped Bolivia, so the central government of Evo Morales is unlikely to let bygones be bygones.

What's a central government to do?

Thousands waved the Santa Cruz region's green-and-white flags in the streets as council members of the Santa Cruz, Tarija, Beni and Pando districts made the public announcement.

The officials displayed a green-bound document containing a set of statutes paving the way to a permanent separation from the Bolivian government.

Council representatives vowed to legitimize the so-called autonomy statutes through a referendum that would legally separate the natural-gas rich districts from President Evo Morales' government.

The move also aims to separate the states from Bolivia's new constitution, which calls for, among other things, a heavier taxation on the four regions to help finance more social programs.

"The statutes will be ratified," said Oscar Ortiz, Santa Cruz senator. "With a public referendum, the people of our region will legitimize their will."

About 35 percent of Bolivia's 9.5 million people live in the four states, according to The Associated Press.

Not everyone is happy with the move. Some demonstrators took steps to hinder the rebels and assist the federal government.

In the meantime, Bolivian network ATV showed what appeared to be armed, pro-government protesters creating blockades around the town of Yapacani, on the outskirts of Santa Cruz.

Some indigenous pro-Morales groups claim Bolivia's richer, white-ruled Eastern regions want to control the country's natural resources. Bolivia has South America's second-largest natural gas reserves, behind Venezuela. Most of it is produced in the Eastern regions.

Bolivian president, Evo Morales, was reported to have done little other than whip up support in the capital. He hinted that further actions won't be long in coming.

"We will not be divided", declared Morales.

Morales also spoke of racial divides in the country's ethnic structure.

In the capital city La Paz on Saturday, Morales addressed thousands of flag-waving supporters in the Plaza Murillo, defending the new constitution and lashing out against what he called the racist policies of Bolivia's elite.

"They must give back the money they took from us," he told a cheering crowd, which included members of the Quechua and Aymara tribes. "We will retroactively investigate all the big fortunes, and the corrupt are now trembling with fear."

Morales also cautioned those who he said want a "a division, a coup d'etat," the AP reported.

"We won't permit Bolivia to be divided," he warned.

Morales -- who belongs to the Aymara indigenous group -- nationalized the country's oil and natural gas reserves when he took power in 2006, creating what became known as the "gas wars."

Running on a platform of redistribution of wealth among Bolivia's poor, Morales has defied countries such as Brazil and the United States for the exploration of Bolivia's natural reserves.

He has also protested the country's racial divide.

"Bolivia is a nation among nations," he said Saturday, referring to the diversity of Indian nations whose traditions date back centuries.

"We are not a country of blue-eyed, green-eyed folks only. It's a plurinational country made of dark-skinned and white-skinned. This new constitution will unite us."

One doubts that Morales will let the four richest regions of the country walk out without a fight.

Whether that means trying to diplomatic concessions or civil war is up in the air.

It's likely that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez will give as much aid--whatever form it may take--to his friend, Morales. Sanctions against Santa Cruz, economic pressure or active military help may be considered to stop the breakaway regions.

Is civil war coming to Bolivia or will South America see a new country on its map?

by Mondoreb
[image:getty]
Source: Four Bolivian Regions Declare Autonomy from Government



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Oppression et Liberté : Socialist Disillusion from a Former True Believer

Oppression and Liberty was published posthumously by Simone Weil in 1955. How has it stood the test of time? 52 years after it's release, how has it fared?

Is it more popular today as it was when it came out?

The book, a comparative view of political systems, trends and features, looks at socialism and its political system rivals.

A little about the book.

OPPRESSION AND LIBERTY
Simone Weil, Arthur Wills (Translator), Preface by T. S. Elliot
Routledge, reprint (2001)
(published posthumously as Oppression et Liberté in 1955)



"The only hope of socialism resides in those who have already brought about in themselves, as far as is possible in the society of today, that union between manual and intellectual labor which characterizes the society we are aiming at." Simone Weil, Oppression and Liberty (1958 edition), Chapter 1, from The Columbia World of Quotations (1996)

"It would seem that man was born a slave, and that slavery is his natural condition. At the same time nothing on earth can stop man from feeling himself born for liberty. Never, whatever may happen, can he accept servitude; for he is a thinking creature." Simone Weil, Oppression and Liberty (1958 edition), Chapter 4, from The Columbia World of Quotations (1996)

(quoted on Bartleby.com)

In Oppression and Liberty (1955) she [Simone Weil] is concerned with the nature and possibility of individual freedom in various political and social systems, finally opting for liberalism rather than socialism. (from Pegasos website)

PUBLISHER
The French thinker Simone Weil counts as one of the leading intellectual and spiritual figures of the twentieth century. She was a legendary essayist, political philosopher and member of the French resistance, whose literary output belied her tragically short life. Most of her work was published posthumously, to widespread acclaim. Always concerned with the nature of individual freedom, Weil explores in Oppression and Liberty its political and social implications. Analysing the causes of oppression, its mechanisms and forms, she questions revolutionary responses and presents a prophetic view of a way forward. If, as she noted elsewhere, 'the future is made of the same stuff as the present', then there will always be a need to continue to listen to Simone Weil.

BOOK REVIEWS
"...She would not accept, in particular, the Marxist vision of historical development and inevitable proletarian triumph. She understood that it was absurdly simplistic, a-historical and self-contradictory. Weil rejected the suggestion of any inexorable progress in the development of "productive forces," and found it ironic and damning that in making a "religion of productive force," Marxists seemed to share a facile optimism with their capitalist enemies...She was impatient with the suggestion that history was progressing toward some final stage in class conflict characterized by material abundance and culminating in the end of oppression....

...she did not over-argue the potential for change. She hoped at most for action that would 'encourage whatever is capable, in the sphere of politics, economics or technique, of leaving the individual here and there a certain freedom of movement amid the trammels cast around him by social organization.'

It is this emphasis on the individual and the distrust of State authority and bureaucratic elitism—an emphasis on justice, not just rights—that is among the distinctive features of Weil’s progressive outlook...." (from book review by Bob Bauer on More Soft Money Hard Law website)

Oppression and Liberty's author, Simone Weil (1909-1943), gained fame after her death for her writing. The book has had introductions by both T.S. Eliot and Albert Camus.

French philosopher, activist, and religious searcher, whose death in 1943 was hastened by starvation. Weil published during her lifetime only a few poems and articles. With her posthumous works - 16 volumes, edited by André A. Devaux and Florence de Lussy - Weil has earned a reputation as one of the most original thinkers of her era. T.S. Eliot described her as "a woman of genius, of a kind of genius akin to that of the saints."

"What a country calls its vital economic interests are not the things which enable its citizens to live, but the things which enable it to make war. Gasoline is much more likely than wheat to be a cause of international conflict." (from The Need for Roots, 1949)

Nothing makes for a good read like the writings of a disillusioned Socialist.

Simone Weil's Oppression and Liberty is Socialist disillusion in the nutshell.

by Mondoreb
[images:coalitionsquebec & ou.edu]

Source:
Oppression and Liberty
Simone Weil




Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.