“People often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves.”

ahhh yes, patrons and otherwise supporters of the statist theocracy that infests this nation grudge others their freedom, liberty, and respect for law.

Socialists definately feel that anyone who has more than them needs to be brought down to their level. Because its just "not fair". If they'd get off their knees and do some work they too might appreciate what they've worked for.

Amen to both Mike and J Carlton.

The world is also full of capitalists who grudge the little guy having anything and attempt to take his last farthing. Wealth and acquisitiviness is basically about showing off and upstaging your friends, neighbors and fellow man. On the other hand their are many who like to see others do well, be well and successful. I took my '69 Riviera out for a spin yesterday. The compliments I and it received your heart warming. The folk genuinely got a kick out of seeing a guy driving around in such a beautiful machine. I don't think peopel grudge the Queen. I think Aesop is full of it here.

Class warfare is the fuel of socialism: To each according to his need, from each according to his ability. That we have allowed robbery to become a viable political philosophy is regrettable.

Waffler, don't you remember the common store-house method of Jamestown, Va.? Socialism only works if you have someone like Captian John Smith to force you to labor for what you take from the common store-house. I'd rather work to fill my own store-house thank you!

You all need to watch more of American Greed on CNBC. The problem with health care in this country is that the insurance moguls are in it for the money. A guy who has no qualms about ripping off anyone and every one in order to feed his greedy stockholders and investors can make a million literally. In the early '80's there was a big move to the HMO model. The guys that figured out how to do made a killing. Some have called it the biggest transfer of wealth event in this our country.

The problem with health care and "everything else" in the US is government involvement...period! It isn't capitalist greed Waffler...its fascist manipulation of the market, and a fiat currency issued by unscrupulous and unnaccountable people with permission from the same fascist government. Sadly statists are blind to this truth.

Many don't enjoy freedom because they don't want to accept the personal responsibility that it requires to be free. Because of that they grudge what the responsible have acquired for themselves in their freedom and so seek to take it for their own without being accountable for how they take it. What will they do when there is no longer anything to take and they find themselves wanting?

Anon I like your phraseoloyg "responsible have acquired". I am all for responsible wealtrh, it is those other guys I don't like. Like Madoff, mountaintop removal coal miners, employers of illegal aliens etc. The get rich by any means and screw your neighbor and your country crowd. Without government and its policy we would have been even more of a wasteland than we already are. As far as I am concerned the fascists can go right ahead and put all the polluters, rip off artists and pigs in jail.

Waff, Knowing we have our differences on what, who, why and how the "wasteland" (a good analogy I.M.O) came about, I, conditionally, agree with you and post these 2 quotes to show the extent of that agreement and why the agreement exists.------"After I asked him what he meant, he replied that freedom consisted of the unimpeded right to get rich, to use his ability, no matter what the cost to others, to win advancement." Norman Thomas.------"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." Benjamin Franklin. So you know where I think our agreement would end there is these 2.-----------"The purpose of government is for those who run it to plunder those who do not. Throughout history, governments have used violence, intimidation, coercion, and mass murder to enforce this system. But governments' first line of "defense" is always a blizzard of lies — about its own alleged benevolence, altruism, heroism, and greatness, along with equally big lies about the "evils" of the civil society..." Thomas J. DiLorenzo.------------"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." Thomas Jefferson. As you can see simple agreement is not always as simple as it sounds but I do get pleasure out of agreeing with you for a change.

Thats great Anon. I think most people and most politicians have and can see common ground if we ever drop our posturing, political labels and alignments. Just talk plain sense.