Apparently puzzled by Forbes's advocacy of capitalism, a column in the New York Times quotes an explanation offered by an author, Fran Lebowitz: "Rich people always have to believe that government is the problem and that they have the answer."
It's hard to square that claim with data from the 2008 election election exit polls showing that Barack Obama did better among voters making more than $200,000 a year, while John McCain won voters earning between $50,000 and $75,000 a year and between $100,000 and $200,000 a year. Mr. Obama's Democratic Party is the one traditionally more likely to see government as the solution rather than the problem, and the "rich people" backed him. What's more, if Forbes's editorial views are dictated by the wealth of its owners, what is one to make of the often left-of-center editorial views expressed by the New York Times, which is owned by a family that is roughly as rich as the Forbes family, if not more so? There are plenty of rich folk out there who have faith in the capability of government. A lot of them are even elected officials -- Jon Corzine, John Forbes Kerry, Jay Rockefeller, Edward Kennedy. It's hard to think of a group other than rich people about which the Times would feel comfortable passing along such a blanket statement about what they "always" believe.