Texas Democrat James Talarico appears eager to audition for the Senate by taking a swing at capitalism, and judging by his latest remarks, he may want to start with a basic economics textbook before heading back to the microphone.

At a Tuesday campaign rally, Talarico told supporters that trickle down economics is not a theory, but theft, then claimed wealthy Americans “have been stealing the wealth that we all created. It's why everything sucks right now. It's why people are so angry.”

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That is the kind of line that plays well in a room full of activists who think slogans are substitutes for math.

It is also the kind of line that reveals just how casually the modern left blames private success for problems created by government failure.

The theory Talarico attacked is rooted in the idea that policies helping businesses and investors, including lower taxes and lighter regulation, can spur growth, hiring, investment, and consumer activity.

Conservatives can argue over the finer points, but pretending wealth creation itself is theft is not serious economic analysis.

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It is campaign theater dressed up as populism. Democrats have found that if they say the word theft loudly enough, they can distract voters from who actually reaches into their pockets every payday.

After all, who takes money from workers before they even see the full fruit of their labor.

It is not some local business owner sending armed agents to your house because you failed to satisfy a bureaucrat.

Government does that. Federal, state, and local authorities take a cut of nearly everything Americans earn, buy, own, sell, inherit, or try to build, and then politicians act shocked when families feel squeezed.

The left loves to portray capitalism as a villain lurking in a top hat, but the average American knows the real shakedown comes with official forms, penalties, fees, and deadlines.

Miss a tax payment and see how quickly the friendly face of government turns into a collection machine.

Civil asset forfeiture is one of the ugliest examples. Law enforcement agencies have seized money, vehicles, and homes from Americans accused of no crime, often without an arrest or conviction, and getting that property back can become a legal nightmare.

Since 2000, agencies have reportedly collected at least 82 billion dollars at the federal level and another 25 billion dollars at state and local levels through that practice.

If Talarico wants to talk about theft, he might start there instead of scolding people who built businesses and signed paychecks.

Property taxes are another fine example of government calling permanent rent by a more polite name.

Americans can spend decades paying off a home, only to learn that ownership still comes with annual tribute to local officials who can take the property if the bill is not paid.

Yes, private lenders can foreclose when borrowers fail to meet terms they voluntarily accepted.

But nobody voluntarily signs up for being taxed forever on land and a house they supposedly own outright.

None of this means corporations are saints or that every wealthy person is noble.

Conservatives do not need to pretend that private markets are perfect in order to recognize that government power is far more coercive and far less accountable.

Talarico’s argument relies on an old progressive trick, blame capitalism for the damage caused by political meddling, reckless spending, inflationary policy, regulation, taxation, and bureaucratic arrogance. Then offer voters more of the same medicine that helped make them sick.

Americans are angry because groceries cost more, housing is punishingly expensive, wages feel stretched, and the ruling class keeps lecturing them about fairness while Washington spends money it does not have.

That anger is real, but Democrats keep trying to aim it at job creators instead of the political machine.

If Talarico wants to run as another Democrat who thinks prosperity is suspicious and government control is compassion, he is free to do so.

Voters are also free to notice that his answer to economic pain seems to be more resentment, more government, and fewer people who understand how wealth is actually created.

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