Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Robin Hood

One of the prominent characters in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" was a pirate who stole from the government and gave to the people who had their wealth stolen by income taxes.

Ragnar Danneskjöld described himself as the anti-Robin Hood.

But this description, and the classic story of Robin Hood is different than we think it is.

Robin Hood was actually stealing from the "rich" tax collectors and giving to the "poor" taxpayers.

Ragnar was anti- the Robin Hood story of stealing fro, the rich to give to the poor.  But he was actually doing exactly what Robin Hood did.

Let me paraphrase Walter Williams.

If Peter robs Paul, then that is wrong.

If Peter robs Paul and gives his ill-gotten goods to the poor, then that is still wrong.

Remember: Thou shall not steal; unless you have a majority vote in congress.

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