Adam Smith wrote the quintessential book on Capitalism... the Wealth of Nations, in 1776.

Mr. Smith wrote:

"The necessaries of life occasion the great expense of the poor. . . . The luxuries and vanities of life occasion the principal expense of the rich, and a magnificent house embellishes and sets off to the best advantage all the other luxuries and vanities which they possess. . . . It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expense, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion."

Finally, why do Republican's favor privatizing, or letting their rich friends keep their income/wealth - with lower taxes – in prosperous times; but, as Mr. Bush haf done, believe in socializing the losses of Wall Street, the banking industry, and the plutocracy that runs this nation - now that greed has run its course, and the economy is in shambles.... in essence, allocating/socializing those losses to the American tax payer?

Could the Republican Party learn something from the man, Mr. Smith, that they have often revered as a near deity? The fact is, as shown in the Clinton era, a fiscally sound government, one that lives within its means, and taxes all classes of society, proportionately…. Does little to discourage the rich from investmenting and creating more jobs; in fact, proportionate taxes on the Republican elite and business …  often creates a greater incentive to do these things, as was shown in the prosperity of the 90’s.

J.M. Hamilton