Republicans are the Marxists?
I’ve come across two articles this morning that try to turn the Marxist/Socialist tables on the Republicans. The weaker and more obvious of the two is from Hale Stewart on the Huffington Post, who argues that the ongoing bailout is an example of “state or collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods”. Though his argument is absolutely correct, the current state of exception undermines the force of the argument.
The more delightful argument comes from JS O’Brien at Scholars & Rogues, who argues that Sarah Palin is the most “Marxist” candidate in the race for President. He starts by citing an interview of Biden by Barbara West in Florida:
West: “You may recognize this famous quote: ‘From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.’ That’s from Karl Marx. How is Senator Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around.”
Biden: “Are you joking? Is … is this a joke?”
West: “No.”
Biden: “Is that a real question?”
West: “That’s a real question.”
After citing a few constructive responses Biden could have used, including a great quote from Teddy Roosevelt (R) that explicitly endorses progressive taxation and the inheritance tax, he gets to the media-friendly version:
Barbara, I’m glad you asked that question, because words like “socialist” and “Marxist” are getting tossed around by people who are afraid of losing an election, hoping that these words will sway enough votes to get them into the White House, riding on a lie.
The fact is, Barbara, that if there is a socialist or Marxist in this race — and I don’t really believe there is — then it has to be Sarah Palin.
In Sarah Palin’s state of Alaska, every citizen gets a check from the government every year for doing absolutely nothing. Not for work. Not for anything they’ve earned. They get that check just for breathing and living in Alaska. Last year, that check amounted to $3,269 per taxpayer. And all for nothing.
Do you know where Alaska gets that money? They get it mostly from the oil companies that pump oil from the state. More than half of Alaska’s total tax revenues come from separation taxes, which are basically taxes on oil and minerals taken from the ground. Another 25% or so comes from corporate taxes. Because companies are paying so much, Alaska citizens pay no income or state sales taxes.
But they do get a check generated from the wealth those big companies generate. And there is no other state in the Union that doesn’t require either a sales or income tax from its citizens, yet gives them a check every year from money those citizens didn’t earn.
I don’t really think Sarah Palin is a Marxist, Barbara. I think that’s a word made up by desperate people who will do anything to win – even tear our country apart by demonizing their opponents. But if there is a Marxist in this race, Sarah Palin would have to be the one.
Love it. And, by the way, isn’t it Palin who’s pushing for extra funds for children with special needs?
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