Thinking a little more about the effect of subconscious, or at least unacknowledged psychological influences, in the electoral campaign, how about this?
The Republican are tarring Obama with the redistribution-of-wealth brush, picturing him as a European style socialist who wants to equalize society. But, surely, that idea, spreading the wealth around more equitably, must have a certain attractiveness for the majority of Americans, who do not have as much money as they would like to have and, most likely, feel a degree of envy towards those who have more than enough.
My guess is that it (that is, the idea of redistribution of wealth) is something like pornography. Just as the average American is ashamed to acknowledge the attraction of pornography, the average American is just as ashamed to acknowledge the attraction of redistribution of wealth. And just as he or she would love to live out his or her sexual fantasies, if it could be done on the up-and-up in some socially approved manner, he or she would love to grab some of those rich people's money, if Washington and the law says it's all right.
The Republican are tarring Obama with the redistribution-of-wealth brush, picturing him as a European style socialist who wants to equalize society. But, surely, that idea, spreading the wealth around more equitably, must have a certain attractiveness for the majority of Americans, who do not have as much money as they would like to have and, most likely, feel a degree of envy towards those who have more than enough.
My guess is that it (that is, the idea of redistribution of wealth) is something like pornography. Just as the average American is ashamed to acknowledge the attraction of pornography, the average American is just as ashamed to acknowledge the attraction of redistribution of wealth. And just as he or she would love to live out his or her sexual fantasies, if it could be done on the up-and-up in some socially approved manner, he or she would love to grab some of those rich people's money, if Washington and the law says it's all right.