Alcohol Quote by L. Neil Smith
“Only someone as puffed up and demented as John Maynard Keynes, every left wing fascist's sainted mentor in this connection, could manage to convince himself that taxing America's Productive Class can restore it to prosperity. In point of fact, it's like screwing for chastity, guzzling alcohol for sobriety, or gorging to fight gluttony. It's like killing indiscriminately for peace - oops, Democrats, Republicans and their moral and spiritual ilk have devoutly believed that particular bit of perverse nonsense since at least the War of 1812.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Fable of the Bees, L. Neil Smith, 1992
The author argues that taxing productive people is absurd, likening it to self‑defeating actions and claiming it’s a perverse belief held across politics.
In simple terms: Taxing productive citizens is counterproductive and illogical.
Key Takeaway
Avoid policies that punish productivity.
Themes
economics
politics
taxation
ideology
misconception
Mood
skeptical
critical
ironic
Type
political
economic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- tax reform debates
- public discourse
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
public policy
economic theory
political rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports or refutes taxing the productive?
- How do ideological beliefs shape economic policy?
A Different Perspective
Such policies may be justified by ideological narratives despite evidence of harm.
![“[As in the case of] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not work.” quote by Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/212/sam-branson-36458_alcohol_as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-il_8703.jpg)
