I've received more comment on the Obama 'parable' about redistribution of wealth that has made the cyber-rounds and that was the subject of reflections by invited clergy in this space the other day.

Here's another such reflection, from Father Michael Schleupner, Bel Air, Md.:

The concept of redistribution of wealth is not new.  It is based on the classical and Christian concept of the common good.  That idea says that we need to look beyond what is good just for ourselves and look to what is good or what benefits the community (society, world) as a whole.  Based on that, Catholic social teaching has said that those with more should share more.  This is why we have a graduated income tax in our country -- although one wonders how effective that really is.  More specific to the 'parable,' the teller of the story misses the point that both of these people are in need -- the waiter in the restaurant and the beggar on the street.  It is likely that neither has health insurance and both live life much closer to the vest than the one who wrote to you. That person needed to share with both and could have done so.
The real issue here is a person who has his mind made up against Obama, against taxes, against financial/economic regulations, in favor of unfettered capitalism, and just wants to keep what he has and let everyone fend for themselves.  It is that attitude that has brought our country into such a financial and social mess and has led us to rank behind other industrialized nations in education, health care for citizens and efforts to eradicate poverty.