Steve, I have no problem whatsoever with people taking what is rightfully theirs.  Working for a fair wage or turning an ethical profit is what makes the economy hum.

What bothers me is those who shamelessly exploit others and subscribe to the philosophy that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.  That was the mantra when I was at university in the early 80s, and it brought Reaganomics, junk bonds, and irresponsible cuts, which were the gestation of the decline of the middle class and the increasing gap between rich and poor.

I have a comfortable lifestyle by dint of hard work.  But I don’t object to society helping those who aren’t as fortunate as I am; we weren’t all blessed with good health and reasonable intellect.  I don’t grumble too much about the taxes I have to pay, either – while I deplore the waste I see in government, I also see people who would have neither food nor shelter if it weren’t for publicly funded programs.