It’s been merely a matter of weeks since a tax deal was struck—increasing the government’s take of the ordinary and investment income of families earning above $450,000 per year. And yet there’s a call for additional revenue raising by hitting high-earners’ tax returns, yet again—by limiting their incentives to expand their businesses, mortgage their homes, etc. (by the way, I am in favor of curtailing government’s influence over the private sector by eliminating tax deductions and credits—as part of an overhaul of the tax code).

My, the unbridled greed of government! “Greed?” you cry “Are you kidding me? How can you call taxing fat cats to pay for programs that provide for the needy and repair our crumbling infrastructure, while putting people back to work, greedy?” Well, honestly, I can with confidence. You, sadly, suffer extreme naiveté if you believe that whatever additional revenue the politician might squeeze from high-earners won’t be distributed in the most politically-expedient (greedy) manner.

Now let’s—only for conversation’s sake—agree that individuals who enjoy the spoils of their profit-seeking efforts are greedy as well. The global question then is whose greed ultimately delivers the most harm to society? Successful individuals spending their own money on luxurious homes and lavish vacations (supporting an awful lot of wage-earners), investing in their businesses and their portfolios (“), or thriftless politicians spending other people’s money to make good on the promises they made to win office (and, in that, I’m talking both sides of the aisle)?

Tell me that’s a no-brainer!