What is any tax policy, but not a redistribution of wealth, including George Bush's tax cuts to people making more than $250,000? Taxes are the rent we pay for enjoying what government provides us. It's just that some of us get more from the government while paying relatively less in rent.

Let's ignore for the moment that Joe the Plumber probably would in fact receive tax cuts under Obama's plan. McCain would have you believe that every dime that Joe makes is his and that it shouldn't be "spread around" to anyone else. Well, what about if Joe hires employees? Wouldn't his wage scale choices represent different forms of wealth distribution? What about whether or not he provides health care? Does Joe have any obligation to provide adequate compensation to the very staff who enable him to acquire his "wealth" in the first place.

And what about the common wealth? Joe uses things like public sewer systems and public roads to practice his craft and get from one client to another. Doesn't his business have an obligation to pay for what it consumes and for the footprint in leaves behind?

We need to dispense with the ludicrous notion that the United States has ever been a free market system. From trade agreements, to the public propping up of American manufacturing and agricultural industries, to minimum wage laws, the government's fiscal policies have always made strategic decisions about how to divide up the spoils from the economy. These decisions are only considered "re-distribution" when they don't benefit the rich and big corporations.