When has that ever worked to improve the standing of a nation? I imagine Americans making some vague reference to Scandanavia or some other far off place they've "heard of that does it" but who don't know the details in defense of the notion.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147881/Americans-Divided-Taxing-Rich-Redistribute-Wealth.aspx
Our ancestors, the first Pilgrims tried this idea as a colony experiment and it failed miserably and they rescinded the order. It promoted laziness and sloth and it nearly wiped out their colony.
On a biblical basis, it is true that having all things in common was practiced, even in the times of Peter and Paul, but the difference between the biblical practice and the government practice is the system was v*o*l*u*n*t*a*r*y*. The one instance in which the individuals were punished for not living the law was because they voluntarily agreed to live the law, then lied about it to make a profit thereby defrauding others, *AND* were thereby introducing dishonesty into the system to the spiritual and temporal harm of a system that was not greedy, did not have dishonesty and was lived out of love. However, the government system is COMPULSORY.
And if there isn't a real motivation other than a fear of punishment, what kind of performance are you going to get? (Answer? Not good. Look at all the countries who's Olympic Athletes are threatened with torture for poor performance.)The trouble with communism and socialism is "The human being for which these systems were designed doesn't exist" (W. Cleon Skausen, "The Naked Communist").
Even the Lord has said that there is no sin in seeking after riches if you do it with the intent of using it in helping others. Even the young rich man who asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life wasn't condemned for being rich, he was told for his betterment to go help others with his riches because he was too attached to them however, but the Lord didn't FORCE him to do it, it was his choice.
Let me ask one more spiritual question: What does it profit someone who receives a gift but doesn't rejoice in it nor have any gratitude for the gift? Someone who just expects it? Who feels "entitled" to it? What kind of a nation do you build if that's the kind of citizenry you build?
The thing about freedom is, people are free to do good AND bad. Its our choice. But a free people is a happy people when they are a moral people. But I don't see the morality in a corrupt government telling people how to use their goods and property and lives and time and finances in the name of "good."