According to John McCain’s definition of socialism, every member of Congress — including John McCain himself — Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, Secretary of the Treasury Paulson, Adam Smith — who is often referred to as the father of modern capitalism — and every resident of our country — except those who are dedicated anarchists — is a Socialist.

How does John McCain define socialism? As a redistribution or spreading of wealth.

You and I know that every government function that involves any spending represents a redistribution of wealth. As a U.S. Senator, John McCain has been intimately involved in and supportive of many redistributions of wealth.

For example, there are the annual redistributions of wealth we call Federal budgets.

For example, there is the bailout bill John McCain “suspended” his campaign to help pass, which was an enormous and controversial redistribution of wealth.

For example, the war in Iraq, the funding of which John McCain supported, is paid for by a redistribution of wealth from taxpayers to the Pentagon, Halliburton, Blackwater and other private — often no-bid — contractors.

Wealth redistribution occurs at all levels of government.

The $27 million in earmarks received by Wasilla, Alaska represents a redistribution of wealth from the rest of us to the roughly 7,000 residents of that small town.

Arizona — McCain’s home state — benefits from wealth redistribution. According to the Tax Foundation, the Federal government spends $1.19 in Arizona for each dollar it receives in Federal taxes from Arizona residents. Alaska — Palin’s home state — benefits even more from wealth redistribution; residents get $1.84 back for each dollar they send to Washington. In contrast, the amounts received by Illinois and Delaware are $ .75 and $ .77 for each dollar paid in Federal taxes. Will McCain and Palin now fight this Socialist wealth redistribution by working to reduce the unfair benefits Arizona and Alaska receive at the expense of other taxpayers?

What about Adam Smith, the founder of capitalism? He said citizens “ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible … in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy …” John McCain must consider Adam Smith, whose name is often invoked when people argue against market regulation, an extremely dangerous Socialist, because he so openly supported progressive taxation and other forms of wealth redistribution!

McCain is making accusations that are meaningless. According to McCain’s definition, each and every one of us is a socialist, including himself. McCain should try some other approach to distinguish himself from his opponent. When name-calling, McCain should first be sure the name doesn’t describe him even better than it does the person he’s trying to smear.

Sue Ravenscroft

Professor

Accounting