The Politics of Envy: A Reverse Snob's Perspective

A few months back,  Mitt Romney snarkily opined that any discussion of income inequality was an expression of success envy.   He further stated that any such discourse should be confined to quiet rooms.

I guess it's something that The Good Governor believes should be kept out of sight and out of mind ---  sorta like the whacked-out step-cousin who lives in the basement,  engages in devil-worship,   and sports a six-six-six tattoo in the center of his forehead.

Only one piddling li'l problem with that:   The vast majority of Americans believe that the very wealthy should be paying their fair share of taxes.   A recent New York Times/CBS poll indicated that a whopping 72% of adults hold this view,  including more than half of  Republicans.  An ABC News/Washington Post survey yielded nearly identical results.

 Raising taxes on the rich will help erase the deficit in concert with other measures.   For instance,  our nation's military footprint could be substantially reduced without compromising our safety.   Two considerations:  According to the Government Accountability Office,  1)  The military budget has doubled over the past ten years;  and 2)  It hasn't been audited in decades.  Just incidentally,  the deficit could be eliminated in ten years --- without hurting people --- if the will to do it existed.   (For greater detail,  a link is available:  budget for all 2013   ).

As far as Romney's idea of success is concerned,  I guess it's all about money!   Poor thing!  Kinda dredges up some memories for me.    I was raised in an economically diverse neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.   The rich kids I went to high school with lived along the lakefront;  the rest of us,  the peons,  resided inland.   Some of them knew the meaning of humility,  but others were possessed by an overarching sense of entitlement.   

As a young guy who had worked part-time throughout much of my youth,  I readily admit to having felt a smug sense of self-satisfaction when comparing myself to my pampered cohorts,  these Young Master Romneys.   Regarding many practical matters,  they seemed utterly clueless.   Yep, I confess!  I was  a shamelessly incorrigible reverse snob!

Never did I envision anyone hailing from that sort of ilk as having presidential potential.   I still don't!