Other people's money

I hate to spoil a good punch line by tacking on a commentary, but there was something I wanted say in the discussion of Rick Santorum (the magic link is back up to number 2!) and his views on the special needs of risk takers that the punch line didn't quite convey.

It's that Santorum wasn't just misspeaking in an amusing way, [jump]

Risky business

This quotation from Rick Santorum, pulled out from a Kos diary by Joe Ascanio with his highlighting, really made me think about something:

“The reason you see some sympathy among the American public for them is the grave concern,” he said, according to the Des Moines Register, “and it’s a legitimate one.” 

“They talk about income inequality. I’m for income inequality. I think some people should make more than other people, because some people work harder and have better ideas and take more risk, and they should be rewarded for it. I have no problem with income inequality.”

Wait a minute! Rewarding people for hard work? Sure. Rewarding people for better ideas? Why not? But rewarding people for taking risks? I beg your pardon? You get the reward if the risk pans out, you lose if it doesn't. That's what risk means! If you're not running an actual risk, then you're just playing Risk down in your well-renovated rumpus room, Mr. Master of the Universe.