I was out yesterday before the glorious Badger football victory with some liberal friends. At the beginning of the day, I told them I wanted to be in a political free zone. I needed a little break from politics. So, I resisted the urge to get a Bush/Cheney sticker at the Farmer's Market (although all my friends did get Kerry/Edwards ones for themselves).

But, as often happens, a wholesome sounding trip to the Farmer's Market ends up being nothing more than a walk around Madison's Capitol Square, followed immediately by a trip to the nearest bar. After a couple of Guinness, even the best intentions go out the window.

My friend Steve is, as I like to call him, a "raging liberal". But, he also enjoys a good debate, and even though he doesn't agree with me, he's not disrespecful. Arguing with him is good, clean fun. Steve and I went back and forth. He towed the Democratic Party line with talk of Bush's "tax cuts for the rich". Finally, I just asked him, "Why should the rich have to pay more? Why shouldn't everyone, above a minimum income, pay the same percentage of taxes?"

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Why shouldn't they? Of course they should pay more. How many houses do they need?". I was astounded by that response, but I probably shouldn't have been.

It gets to the heart of liberal Democrats everywhere. They don't care about the poor. They just hate the rich. They think the rich are a bunch of Hummer-driving ogres. The other funny thing is that they in no way equate being rich with being successful. I think they assume all rich people (and, we're talking rich as those making above the "magical" $200,000 mark) either inherited money or got rich by "exploiting the workers". Therefore, they have no right to enjoy their income as they see fit.

Liberals are a funny lot. They are all for "choice" as long as you're talking about abortion. But, if you're talking about having a choice of school to send your child to, or how to spend your own money, then we certainly have no "right to choose". Government knows best.

How many American liberals realize that they are actually hardcore socialists?