The Rich: to Soak or Not to Soak?

Soaking the rich has been a common theme in American politics. Even individuals like Thomas Jefferson and J.B. Say condoned placing a higher burden on the rich because “they” can afford it. It is also politically expedient; the rich are much fewer in numbers and have a smaller voting bloc that politicians can spare losing. Most people have what Mises called the “Fourier complex”, the envy for the wealth and better conditions of others. They would also rather distribute fairness though they may gain nothing from it, or even lose from it.

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