[LEAKED VIDEO] Obama: "I actually believe in redistribution"

I can't tell if he was reading off the teleprompter or just speaking his mind.

 

Hey, I hear there is this guy named Rev. Wright, maybe you can find some video?

 

Can you make that video really big like basso did when he posted it yesterday?

 

lol The thing is, they know how much Romney has changed since 1998. The fact that they are willing to accept the inevitable response that Romney was so different in the past, shows just how badly the 47% video hurts that they are willing to swap some of it for this.

I wonder if Citizens United are eligible for a refund by now?

 

Seriously!

Can we start posting 1998 Romney videos on the issues? I'm thinking his thoughts on supporting gay rights and abortion would most pertinent at this time

 

Good clip. Obama correctly points out that government can and has failed (and brings up the Chicago housing authority and Chicago public schools) but also says that they should make it better and make it work. I don't see what, if anything, there is to discuss about the video.

 

If you believe in government, you believe in redistribution. The only difference between Obama and Romney is where you want the distribution to occur.

 

bigtexxx starting to unintentionally support Obama.

 

Its become a dirty word, but anyone that's not advocating a strict flat tax "believes in redistribution".

 

Hahaha, my goodness you are desperate. It is B-E-A-utiful.

 

According to DonnyMost everyone believes in redistribution. He is of course wrong. No Libertarian/Conservative would argue one of government's duties is redistribution.

 

Of course they do, they believe in redistribution to the top.

 

That's not what I took from his post. It seemed to say that those who "believe in" government (more specifically, a state) therefore must endorse some degree of redistribution. And this statement is 100% accurate, as no nation-state can exist without taxation, one of the preferred methods of redistribution. Whether the money taken from those under the state goes to the military, the poor, businesses, "infrastructure," or whatever else, it is still a form of redistribution.

 

They certainly wouldn't use that word. But all government programs, subsidization of the private sector, public services, and of course taxation -- all can be considered a type of redistribution of wealth. So anyone who is not calling for the government to be completely gutted, it can be argued, is agreeing to a form of redistribution.

 

If you pay a fee to the government (flat or graduated), it is virtually impossible to assure you are going to receive the same (or equitable) amount of goods or services back in return as everyone else who also pays into that system.

If you believe in government, you believe in redistribution.

Bingo. Tallanvor needs to brush up on his Civics 101.

 

Then why do they advocate for policies that redistribute wealth from the poor and middle classes to the wealthy?

 

Dear God! What's next??

 

QUIET YOU!

No Libertarian/Conservative would ever support such a policy!

 

They are redistribution, but the purpose is not redistribution (in many cases). Obama believes in redistribution for redistribution's sake (that's his comment).

I don't. I think you are confusing voluntary and involuntary action. If a policy leads to people voluntarily and without being coerced from the government distributing their wealth to others then that is not redistribution (at least not redistribution from government). Freedom baby.

tax money spent on the military would not be redistribution unless you are using some very bastardized version of the word 'redistribution' . Money spent on the 'poor' and 'businesses' would be, but most conservatives/libertarians frown on such things so my statement is correct.


I think all 3 of you are trying to use some simple definition of 'redistribution' to justify Obama's comments. When Obama says 'he believes in redistribution' he is referring to this:

An economic theory or policy that advocates reducing inequalities in the distribution of wealth.