In the Skewer Franc-enstein, I argued that Republicans are enamored with tax cuts not as a means to boost employment, but rather as a measure to further their philosophy of channeling next to 100% of economic rewards to the people who need it the least, namely the rich.  The rest of America should live in gutters and stop complaining about the lack of access to frivolities like food and health care.  That 245 members of Congress are millionairs only serves to underscore Washington’s incentive to mitigate any potential redistribution of wealth.

Only days later, Representative John Fleming (R-LA), went on MSNBC to attack President Obama’s proposed tax increase on individuals earning in excess of $1 million per year.  “This is all about creatng jobs,” contended Fleming, “not about attacking people who make certain incomes.”  Yet when confronted with the fact that his Subway and UPS franchises garnered 2010 gross income of $6.3 million, the Congressman bristled, “By the time I feed my family I have, maybe, $400,000 left over to invest in new locations, upgrade my locations, buy more equipment.”  I don’t know what the Flemings are having for dinner, but with a tab of $5.9 million, they certainly aren’t eating any of that crap at Subway.   More likely, a steady diet of Wagu beef topped with white truffles and Iranian caviar.  But more importantly, and by Fleming’s ownadmission, none of that reinvestment was earmarked for HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES.  Tone deaf to the plight the unemployed and underemployed , Fleming railed, “Class warfare’s never created a job.”  Perhaps not, John, but it has created tens of thousands of erstwhile law-abiding citizens with no compunction for breaking into your house, stealing your 60″ flat-screen TV and raping your daughters on the way out the back door.

Conservatives need to understant that the redistributive effect of progressive taxation is best understood not as a handout, but rather as an insurance premium.  And given Newt Gingrich’s $300,000 tab at Tiffany’s, something to well consider.