Some of the most stupid, corrupt and/or repressive laws have been passed by extremely wealthy vested interests. The redistribution flaw is by no means limited to the poor using government to fleece the rich or middle class - often it is the other way round.
You're sure right about that. Warren Buffett and George Soros are two of the world's wealthiest men, and both of them seem to delight in spouting nonsense about public policy. It's also ironic that, as the Supreme Court has lessened the states' ability to control who votes and voting has become more widespread among previously excluded groups, that the marginal rate of taxation has declined significantly. Unfortunately, spending has not declined, and even a fairly conservative president like Bush seems to have no interest in holding it down.
Bush has no trouble writing checks that his administration will never have to pay for, the deficits he creates are not his problem....they will be a democratic adminstration's problem. Who would have thougth that advancing a conservative agenda would be so expensive....