==History==
Progressives try to sell ideas of egalitarianism as new, however historically the concept of wealth redistribution is very old, having its roots in the [[Palace economies]] of early city-states. [[Benjamin Franklin]] at the [[Constitutional Convention]] mentioned how the Pharoahs engaged in it.<ref name=convention /></ref>
Benjamin Franklin was not the only one who noticed. Another Founding Father, [[James Madison]] made multiple observations regarding the theft of income or assets, "levelling", from one person to another. On June 26th, 1787, he said:
Wealth redistribution has the net-effect of consolidating power for rulers by, in effect, rewarding certain groups for their support while punishing others. In a discussion regarding public debtors, [[Oliver Ellsworth]] made the following observation:
<blockquote>Mr Elseworth was for disagreeing to the remainder of the clause disqualifying Public debtors; and for leaving to the wisdom of the Legislature and the virtue of the Citizens, the task of providing against such evils. Is the smallest as well as the largest debtor to be excluded? Then every arrear of taxes will disqualify. Besides how is it to be known to the people when they elect who are or are not public debtors. The exclusion of pensioners and placemen in England is founded on a consideration not existing here. As '''persons of that sort are dependent on the Crown, they tend to increase its influence'''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Madison|first1=James |url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_726.asp |title=Madison Debates, July 26 |work=[[Constitutional Convention]] |date=July 26, 1787 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YsapejLQstkC&pg=PA147|last1=Zeckhauser|first1=Richard|title=Strategy and Choice|date=1991|publisher=MIT Press|isbn=978-0262240338|pages147-151}}</ref></blockquote>
During the [[2016 presidential election]], then candidate [[Ben Carson]] discussed the role of [[welfare]] and the buying of votes.<ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2015/10/13/why_is_dr_carson_s_common_sense_totally_foreign_to_the_modern_day_gop Why Is Dr. Carson's Common Sense Totally Foreign to the Modern-Day GOP?], [[Rush Limbaugh]]</ref> He said: "You can’t take care of yourself and I’m going to give you food stamps, a housing subsidy and free health care, and all the things you need so you can stay dependent and vote for me."<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2015/10/12/ben-carson-welfare-perpetuates-poverty-buys-votes/ Ben Carson: Welfare Perpetuates Poverty, Buys Votes]</ref>
===Influence Peddling===
Preying on those with limited economic means for support does extend outside of government. Actor [[Sean Penn]] conducted an interview with notorious drug lord Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, commonly referred to as ''El Chapo'', in an interview for [[Rolling Stone]] magazine.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/el-chapo-speaks-20160109 El Chapo Speaks]</ref> In the article, Penn notes how in the process of establishing the Sinaloa cartel, El Chapo established himself as a mythical, "Robin Hood-like figure who provided much-needed services in the Sinaloa mountains" such as food,road building, and also medical relief. All of this support that El Chapo received was mainly because he purchased it, using the largess of his drug funding.
==Liberal Attempts to Redefine the Term==
Liberals have attempted to redefine the terms "income redistribution" and "redistribution of wealth" to demonize [[free market]] [[capitalism]] and small government. They claim that [[trickle down economics]], deregulation, and tax cuts have redistributed income from the poor and middle class to the rich.<ref>Robinson, Eugene. "Have and Have-not Nation." October 28, 2011. Washington Post Writers Group. http://www.truth-out.org/have-and-have-not-nation/1319808459</ref> As evidence they point to income data, such as data in the report released by the Congressional Budget Office in October 2011.<ref>Condon, Stephanie. [http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20126373-503544/income-gap-will-keep-growing-without-changes-cbo-director-says/ Income gap will keep growing without changes, CBO director says.] October 27, 2011. [[CBS News]]</ref> However, the [[lamestream media]] and liberal politicians have heavily exaggerated this fact recently.
===Robin Hood Upside Down===
{{main|Robin Hood}}
In the original stories, the people of England suffered under the oppression of a high tax regime created by the King and enforced by the Sheriff. Robin Hood's unsanctioned tax cuts worked against this system. The new Robin Hood as a hero of redistributive purposes did not appear until the late 1700s, through the work of [[Joseph Ritson]]. This transformation is quite destructive of everything that Robin Hood fought for, considering that the King was imposing excessive taxes, and redistribution requires the same kind of high tax imposition.
==Quotes==
*"Attempts to redistribute wealth repeatedly led to the redistribution of poverty." -- [[Thomas Sowell]] [http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Earth-Rise-Fall-Socialism/dp/1893554783/ref=cm_lmf_tit_9_rdssss0]
*"Hence as all history informs us, there has been in every State & Kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing & governed: the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the Princes, or enslaving of the people. Generally indeed the ruling power carries its point, the revenues of princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but always in want of more. The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes; the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partizans and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure. There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharoah, get first all the peoples money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever." -- [[Benjamin Franklin]]<ref name=convention>{{cite web |last1=Madison|first1=James |url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_602.asp |title=Madison Debates, June 2 |work=[[Constitutional Convention]] |date=June 2, 1787 }}</ref>
*"[Obama's] policies, like those of FDR, seek to destroy America from within as a pretext to comprehensively remake the republic into a servile, Marxist welfare state." -- [[Ellis Washington]], in reference to [[Obama|Obama's]] policies on income distribution<ref name=wnd>[http://www.wnd.com/2010/04/144865/ Kill the welfare state!], [[WND]]</ref>
==References==
==See Also==
* ''[[Heaven on Earth]]''
* ''[[The Naked Communist]]'' by [[Cleon Skousen]]
* ''[[Thanksgiving]]''* [[Palace economy]]
==External Links==
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/redistribution/ What Liberals Say - Category: Redistribution], [[Accuracy In Media]]
{{Liberalism}}
{{Template:Economic preparedness topics}}
[[Category : Economic Preparedness]]