Fairness: The New Euphemism for Socialism

In response to this piece in which I compared Barack Obama to Karl Marx, I received this comment.

I think that it is not so much Capitalism which is into question here.It is more the deviance of it represented by the Chicago school which is about a complete deregulation of the markets.When you think of it, is it fair to have someone make 100000$ a month just by buying and selling stocks??

Sure hard work is a value that you american cherish more that some other countries and it is one of the reasons why you have have become this great power. But this is not about earning money from your hard work anymore, this is only about how much money you already have and how much you can invest.

Now there is something else,when inequity increases above a certain level in a country, it is always a source of social troubles. What is the point in being one of the wealthiest country in the world on an average basis if you cannot provide your population with health care?? This has been done with success in many countries (In France for example) without destroying companies or jobs.

Embedded in this comment is several of the buzz words and ideas that Socialist thinkers use to create euphemisms for their plans. The most prominent euphemism is this idea of "FAIRNESS". How can one person make $100,000,000 while another only makes $25,000, that's not fair. How can one person afford to buy multiple homes while another can't afford health insurance, that's not fair.

In fact, the idea of "fairness" is at the heart of the progressive tax system.

Now, I know that there are tens of millions of people who believe, as I do, that a progressive tax is about fairness, about not just the ability to pay, but the degree to which a wealthier person benefits from our common possessions. That position, like any that disagrees with a Republican position, has been dubbed “elitist.”

If that’s the case, then I say “Pass the arugula!” As I’ve said before, I come from a long line of working-class people, civil servants and tradesman, and I’m in the lower end of that economic bracket myself. Where I come from, a man takes care of his responsibilities and doesn’t complain. He pays his taxes. And when he gets somewhere, he remembers where he came from.

I would love to hear from all of the other “elitists” out there, the teacher, the construction worker, the waitress, the meatpacker, who think that people ought to pay their fair share. People who understand that the burden of these hard times is not falling on those who earn over $250,000.00. It’s “elitists” like us that have carried the weight.

In fact, one comment in response to this article frames this idea of "fairness" perfectly.

The REALITY is this!!!! No matter what anyone says, an extra 2-3% to anyone making over $250,000 a year is a drop in the bucket. I'm willing to do my part and I'm a Democrat to boot. Elitist, NOT AT ALL. PROUD AMERICAN WILLING TO HELP GET AMERICA BACK ON IT'S FEET....HELL YES!!!!! Obama/Biden '08

Now, a less euphemistic means of describing this issue was done by the father of Socialism, Karl Marx.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs)

There is of course absolutely no difference between the idea of fairness and the idea of taking from each according to their ability and giving to each according to their need. Each is a bedrock of Socialism. The only difference today is directly quoting Karl Marx gets you nowhere. Rather, quoting his message with new and better terminology gets you elected.

The roots of Socialism is the idea of class warfare. The wealthy have means, and thus more must be taken from them. The middle class doesn't have as much and thus more must be given to them. The idea of class warfare and Socialism are alive and well in today's America. They have just taken on new more euphemistic terminologies like "fairness".