The concept of "redistribution" falsely implies that the existence of property is prior to the existence of the state. #mythofownership
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Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 18, 2012A 1998 audio clip of President Obama singing the praises of wealth redistribution is making the rounds today.
For conservatives, Obama’s attitude doesn’t come as much of a shock, but it’s certainly worth spotlighting. For liberals, the concept of wealth redistribution is one that should be embraced. That’s certainly the case for Slate “real reporter” Matt Yglesias, who argues that ownership is just a myth.
In Matt’s universe, your business? Your life? You didn’t build that. Your property? You didn’t own that. Ever. Matt’s credibility as a “real journalist”? He didn’t earn that.
Anti-statist Twitterers were more than happy to dish out the business to Yglesias. Hard:
I can't wait for Obama to make this argument in the debate. twitter.com/mattyglesias/s…—
James Taranto (@jamestaranto) September 18, 2012
This might be the most ridiculously ignorant tweet on Twitter. The fail is strong. –> twitter.com/mattyglesias/s…—
Justin Thompson (@jltho) September 19, 2012
@mattyglesias In other words you're a communist. @iowahawkblog—
David Paul (@PowerElement) September 19, 2012
@mattyglesias wow good thing you’re not in charge of ANYTHING. Sheesh.—
Shaun McDonnell (@McShauno) September 19, 2012
.@mattyglesias So nobody respected anyone's claim to exclusively use and dispose of things before states started enforcing it?—
Bryan Pick (@BryanPick) September 19, 2012
The concept of property predates government. It's the product of one's work. @mattyglesias—
Miké (@ThePantau) September 19, 2012
Maybe if @mattyglesias didn't have to steal his book titles he'd have a more philosophically robust view of ownership….—
el SOOPer (@SooperMexican) September 19, 2012
Way, WAY wrong. RT @mattyglesias: Concept of "redistribution" falsely implies that existence of property is prior to existence of the state—
Jeff Emanuel (@jeffemanuel) September 19, 2012
.@mattyglesias Grossly ignorant of prehistory, or just making crap up? (even odds, I'd say)—
Jeff Emanuel (@jeffemanuel) September 19, 2012
.@mattyglesias Reality: State as arbiter of property "ownership" postdated individual/group ownership by millennia. #mythofownership—
Jeff Emanuel (@jeffemanuel) September 19, 2012
I guess us pale faces are off the hook for "stealing" all that non-property from the Indians then. twitter.com/mattyglesias/s…—
Colin Duffy (@TheRightDuff) September 19, 2012
In short, you didn't build that, you don't own that. You owe all to the merciful, life giving state. twitter.com/mattyglesias/s…—
David Burge (@iowahawkblog) September 19, 2012
Special repost for state-worshipping @mattyglesias: In the beginning Govt created the Heavens and the Earth iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2012/…—
David Burge (@iowahawkblog) September 19, 2012
@mattyglesias Your statement falsely implies property only exists because the state exists. Are you really this fucking stupid?—
Brian Cates (@drawandstrike) September 19, 2012
Hey, @mattyglesias – where do you live? I'd like to check over your furniture and see if there's anything I like. #mythofownership—
(@katewerk) September 19, 2012
Oh, snap.
Yglesias is free to hand off all his worldly possessions to The State. Elizabeth Warren and Chairman Mao would be ever so pleased. Meanwhile, we’ll hold on to what’s rightfully ours. We rather enjoy our life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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Spin of the day: Slate’s Matt Yglesias says can’t blame Obama for ‘inheriting’…himself
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‘Real journalist’ Matt Yglesias admits what we’ve known all along
