Can anyone realistically think that a 50.3% marginal tax rate 1) won't take economy and 2) might actually cause tax revenue to decline – the wealthy are rather good at moving money and restructuring assets to minimize the tax burden..

You seem to assume that John McCain has negligible chances in November. Why?

Wrt Social Security and redistribution: you have a good point about twice as much contributions not equaling twice as much benefits. But isn't it true that poorer people tend to start working much earlier, and also live shorter lives (either never retiring or living only a short time in retirement), than do better-off people?

Wrt the term "asked": it seems to be a common euphemism for ordering someone to do something. It does grate on my nerves, too, but people generally seem to consider it a genteel way of describing an order.

Cheers,

Jeff Deutsch