Until this point, this blog has primarily focused on the negative. I’ve dwelt on how big government is, and how worse off we all are for it.
On this holiday, however, I would like to offer my thanks to the people that continue to make this country great: the Capitalists. I am thankful for all the business owners and investors out there who have the courage to put their time and money at risk in the hopes of turning a profit. The side effect of this army of people competing for our dollars is limitless convenience and a quality of life that is unimaginable in much of the world.
Of course, we are so accustomed to this lifestyle brought about by the free market that we take it for granted. The only time these individuals seem to get any attention at all is when it is negative, but where would we be if not for them? They are often times dismissed as greedy and selfish, but can you imagine life without them?
Take a look at this article by Jonathan Hoenig of CapitalistPig.com. I first read it a few years ago but came across it again today. He recognizes capitalists as heroes and points out a few ways that our lives are better because of them.
Outstanding article! Thanks for supporting capitalism and posting the link
Comment by Justin — November 26, 2005 @ 6:52 pm
So all these “great” capitalists and corporations should be left to do whatever they like w/o regulation? Can you imagine the hell that would leave us with?
Corporations (publicly traded) have one goal.
To turn a profit.
Turn a profit at the any and every expense.
Our way of life, domestic politics, foreign relations, individual rights and so many more things are suffering greatly due to these “great” capitalists.
The “great” capitalists’ are the puppets that orchestrate and facilitate the deeds for these profit-grubbing corporations no matter the expense paid by society, the environment, even their own (the “great” capitalists) families.
How can you admire these people who are most responsible for the Huge out of control government that has long been infiltrated by corporate influence?
I thought libertarianism was fairly smart. Now I know better. No wonder they can’t get a political foothold in America… they want to turn eveerything over to the “great” capitalists - who are saving the world.
SHEESH!
I guess I’ll go back to thinking that libertarians are just GOP Republicrats who want to smoke pot, etc.
shame.
om.
Comment by Oscar Meyer — July 27, 2006 @ 1:34 am
Yes I do believe that, for the most part, these great capitalists and corporations should be left alone - free of regulation - to make as much money as they possibly can.
Capitalism means competition, and competition leads to choice, efficiency, and innovation! All things that constantly improve our standard of living.
As an example, competition between companies like Intel and AMD or Dell and Gateway have created enormous profits for those companies, and the result is that I can now buy a computer for $300 that is hundreds of times more powerful that one that would have cost $3000 ten years ago.
Would you prefer a system where we have no choice? Where only one company, or perhaps the government, is allowed to make and sell computers? Surely you wouldn’t.
So yes, I am extremely thankful for the capitalists. I only wish that we could turn more over to the free market. One area in particular that could benefit from a little capitalism is our school system. Can you imagine how much better our education system would be if we ended the government monopoly, and forced the government schools to actually compete with private schools?
Comment by Danny — July 27, 2006 @ 1:02 pm
The standard of living that you enjoy is not the result of capitalism but the efforts of brave,such as the far sighted men such as the two Roosevelts, Teddy and FDR. Captilists only care for their employees and consumers so far as they are kept in a condition where they,the employees can contribute to the bottom line and where they,the consumer has enough disposable income to purchase the product the capitalist produces. The modern day capitalist produces nothing tangible and is increasingly losing interest in the consumer and with outsourcing to other countries has lost interest in employees. Lou Dobbs has struck a sound note in his book “Attack on The Middle Class” As government shifts from being a partner of big business to being big business employees the true face of capitalism will be revealed. Capitalism will not need the middle class which the capitalists will indermine and destroy. They will actively create a poor class,a under class, as and only excisting as, a labour pool that will do anything required by the big business and then be discarded because of their desperate need.
Remember that the ultimate aim of capitalism, no matter the protestations to the contrary, is one person controlling one company that controls everything.
Comment by Richard Lorenzen — October 19, 2006 @ 12:57 pm
Mr. Lorenzen,
Thank you for your comment, although I respectfully disagree with much of it.
I’ll start with your conclusion that the aim of capitalism is one person control. Actually, the aim of capitalism is to make as much money as possible. Most of the time, large corporations (probably your idea of capitalists) are not ran by a single individual. A board of directors will typically entrust an individual with the position of CEO, but this person is not in complete control.
If you are opposed to single entities controlling everything, i’m surprised that you come out in favor of larger more intrusive government. It doesn’t matter how large a business becomes, it will never have the power to take money or property away from individuals against their will. Those benefits are reserved for governments.
You mention that the “modern day capitalist produces nothing tangible and is increasingly losing interest in the consumer…” I really don’t understand at all how you can say this. Capitalists are the ONLY group that are producing anything tangible in this country. If they weren’t producing something tangible, they wouldn’t be in business. That’s the whole point. What is tangible that isn’t produced by a capitalist? It is the government that never produces, only consumes.
I am curious. Can you explain how your ideal world would work? A world free of capitalists?
Comment by Danny — October 19, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Yes, all hail capitalism, except that you forget that the “capitalist heroes” as you say, only care about making as much money as they can. Your quality of life and limitless convienience cannot be attributed to capitalists, rather it is the government with its rules and regulations that ensures that these capitalists abide by certain conduct and the byproduct IS your quality of life and limitless convienience. Now, take away the government, and what do you have? Capitalists(multinationals and the like) getting away with unethical and immoral practices in second and third world countries; contributing to the host of problems already plaguing these regions of the world.
These capitalists or capitalism that you praise (while one cannot ignore the benefits), has led to consumerism, particularly in the Western World. thinks about this, the USA, only 6 percent of the world consumes 30 percent of the world’s resources(your quality of life and limitless convienience). This is all well and good, but the question becomes: How are the rest of the world supposed to live of less than seventy percent? While you enjoy your quality of life and limitless convienience because of capitalism, on the other side of the globe, some innocent child will die because of it.
Comment by Shay — November 6, 2006 @ 3:40 pm
yes , capitalism is a great fundamental part of our economy. But anyone will agree we have great problems. We need a $25 an hour minimum wage.We should offer prisoners in jail a chance to earn their debt to society.Politicians should not be able to accept more than $25 from any interest and our judges should be elected.no more taxes on cigarettes,alcohol,or gas
Comment by Gary Finneran — October 29, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
I assume you’re kidding about the $25 minimum wage.
Comment by Danny — October 30, 2007 @ 10:42 am