Only a Liberal…

Well, sort of. I dont consider this indicative of the GOP by any stretch. I despise anyone who sells out their principles for the sake of race. I don’t care which race it is. Anyone who won’t vote for Barack Obama because he’s part black is an ignorant moron, and likewise anyone who will vote for him because he’s part black is an ignorant moron. It appears that Colin Powell, age 71, would like to see a half-black president before he dies, and he’s willing to put lipstick on socialism to help it get done.
“Taxes are always a redistribution of money. Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to those that pay it in roads and airports and hospitals and schools…”

Except Obama wants rich people to pay twice as much for the same roads as poor people. The rich people are not getting their money back. That’s like charging poor people $4 for a coffee, but charging rich people $20 for a coffee. “They’re getting their money back! Look we gave them a coffee!”

“and taxes are necessary for the common good.”

We have to be very specific with this one. Taxes are necessary for the rule of law, national defense, and providing a reliable currency. Most things outlined in the constitution fall under those three things. Having the rule of law is part of why the United States is so great. We take it for granted, while other nations have to deal with religious influences. Taxes make our virtually omnipotent military possible, and again, we take our security for granted. A lot of countries would like being #1 in the world by taking us out, but they wouldn’t dare due to the threat of our power.

The point is capitalism is really what is necessary for the common good. It does not work without tax revenue to provide the rule of law and national defense, but the common good cannot be achieved without capitalism. Capitalism and the free market are color-blind, class-blind, age-blind. They are also unforgiving and brutal, which is why socialists don’t like it. The problem is socialism is unforgiving and brutal in its own ways, as shown by many nations in the past and present.
“There’s nothing wrong with examining what our tax structure is or who should be paying more or who should be paying less and for us to say that that makes you a socialist I think is an unfortunate characterization. That isn’t accurate.”

Colin, saying that one American should pay more taxes than another is socialist. The fact you don’t like the word socialist does not change its meaning. All socialists “advocate the creation of an egalitarian society, in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly.” (Wikipedia)

Calling it socialist is 100% accurate. This analysis does not illustrate that Colin Powell is a closet-socialist, or he wishes the country was socialist. It illustrates that he doesn’t care about the appalling scourge of socialism, as long as a half-black man becomes President while he’s still alive. I have no doubt that if John McCain were black, he would endorse John McCain. Its not a matter of ideology. General Powell doesn’t have the patience or patriotism to let time pass and allow for a qualified, black candidate to earn the office. I’m sure it will happen very soon, but perhaps not for another several election cycles.