Why don't we force wealthy people to give us more of their money?

[Michael Hardner]

The problem of course is that the upper middle class, and the wealthy are the ones that reliably go to the polls!!! Politicians are nervous as hell about doing anything that could be seen as weakening private property rights for a collective benefit.

You don't actually think that their voting is what influences things do you ? Their money buys influence, that's the point.

[dre]

You don't actually think that their voting is what influences things do you ? Their money buys influence, that's the point.

Both of those things are huge. The reality is that historically the poor and lower middle class vote in very low numbers, unless they get desperate. That leaves the "property owners" in almost full control of the political process. No great suprise then that about 90% of what a western government does revolves around protecting property rights (courts, law enforcement, military).

So we dont see major parties running on a platform of wealth distribution because they would do very poorly... the propery ownership class would be worried about their property rights, and theyre the only ones that go to the polls.

You just need to look at what government is and does. It guarantees property rights, and facilitates transactions. Virtually EVERYTHING that government does falls under this... even the stuff that doesnt "appear" to such as programs like welfare that on the surface LOOK like theyre meant to help the poor, when theyre really meant ensure private property rights.