Cenk Uygur’s “tax the rich” argument, showcased regularly on The Young Turks, plays directly into the conservative frame for taxes. Conservatives view taxes as punitive when in reality they are intended to be a collective investment in America’s future. Cenk isn’t changing any minds with this punitive argument: the rich have more money then they could possibly spend, therefore we should steal it from them.

A more moral argument to make is that we all work hard, some of us get lucky and some of us toil away, but we are all Americans. American stick together. It’s easy for someone with a lot of power and success to say, I don’t need America. America’s future is no big deal. If the chips are down I can always go live in Sweden. And since everyone “knows” taxes are punitive, not paying them is the rational thing to do. But this is the same as a Marine getting captured by the enemy and deciding — dude, torture really sucks. Maybe I should just join the other side.

Cenk’s show is really great, but I’ve heard the argument again and again. It’s become a one-liner in the TYT lexicon. Cenk should really reframe his “Tax the Rich” argument from a better perspective. Taxes suck.  Everyone knows that.  But the tax debate is not going to change until progressives destroy the prevailing conservative frame.  America is about stepping up when things get tough. That’s the right thing to do.  It’s the moral argument. And it will win.

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