Harris has found even stronger support for raising taxes on the wealthy. According to a 2008 poll, 62% of Americans believe the government should tax them more heavily. Interestingly, this percentage was higher than that in many European countries, generally thought to be more egalitarian than the U.S. For example, only 51% of respondents in France favored raising taxes on the wealthy. …

We may be entering a new era of class warfare not seen since the 1930s, when Franklin D. Roosevelt went after the nation's wealthy as a deliberate political strategy. …

Too much commentary on taxation from the conservative side treats changes in the top rate as the be-all and end-all of tax policy. But it's important to know what income the tax rate applies to. This is especially important when comparing tax rates today to those in the past. It is essential to adjust tax thresholds for inflation before drawing any conclusions.

Raising the top rate to 39.6% is a bad idea, but it is not the end of the world and may be a small price to pay to avoid even more punitive taxes on the wealthy that appear to have widespread support. It should be remembered that, as recently as 1986, the top rate was 50% and the 40% bracket applied to those with a real income one-fourth of what Obama proposes.