What "Tax the Rich" Really Means To Americans

I remember Bill O’Reilly’s interview with then candidate, Barak Obama in 2008. Obama said to Bill, “you and I make enough money, don’t you think we should pay our fair share?” To which Bill agreed, “sure I do.” Buzz! Wrong answer! The reason it is the wrong answer is because he was played into Obama’s class warfare argument.

Obama then went on to gain Bill's agreement that Americans making more than $250,000 should pay more. Bill agreed. But wait a minute! This argument has been going on for decades and is really cloaked in class warfare.

Think “Middle class” and you think working American.

Think “Rich” and do you think “employer?” Probably not. See what I mean when I say, class warfare argument? It's what the Russian revolution was all about. Its what progressives, anti-colonials and social democrats are all about. In 1979 it's what a general in the Pentagon said to a young enlisted man (me) when explaining what he saw as a coming domestic conflict in our country. The constant struggle between the "haves" and "have-nots."

I think we can all agree that when the word, “rich” is used to describe class it doesn’t exactly paint a picture of people who pay their fair share of taxes. The rich not paying their fair share goes against our sense of fairness and injustice. Aren't all Americans to pay an equal share? Not in our constitution. This is a fundamental difference between conservatives and progressives (progressing into the stone age). On the surface it appears to be an injustice to think of a "class" of people who don't pay their fair share. My sharecropper grandmother believed it. My high school educated secretary mother believed it and most of my Latin uncles, aunts and cousins believe it.

But whoa. Back up. Wait a minute. The answer to the Dem argument is skated around as conservatives try to counter it but never truly address it. I think John Stossel comes closest because he always qualifies his response with, “who do you think hires all the working people?”

Let’s simplify things a bit. Because the Dems are mindless followers for the most part (I know, because I used to be one and voted twice for Jimmy Carter).

Let’s educate people a little. Even Barack.

Here’s what Bill O’Reilly and hundreds of other pundits should be saying,

“You mean tax EMPLOYERS? Because that is who the rich are! So you, Mr. Democrat, (blind follower of hate for what you do not understand) are saying we should take more from EMPLOYERS?”

"No! I think they already pay their fair share in corporate taxes, employee taxes, capital gains taxes, property taxes and when they die, estate taxes." So no, no and no, I think they pay their share and besides, who are you to judge that they don't pay enough? Is that really your call? Isn't freedom at stake when you make that claim?" That isn't in our constitution you know. Or do you? Maybe you should read it. Aren't you punishing people for being clever and working hard to reach that top 2%? Of course you are. If you say you aren't, I think it's just hubris.

Let's stop referring to the top 2% of income earners as rich and call them what they truly are: employers.

Ronald Munoz