gk.............
Perhaps it is not the practice of capitalism which has driven the world down its current path but rather the absence of education which has failed to rein it in. The basic premise of capitalism is sound. Capitalism built this country for which you seem to have so much disdain. Capitalism also provided goods, medical care and military support for many, many 3rd world countries to which you seem to align yourself. The Middle East might be nothing more than tents in the sand were it not for us capitalists buying their oil. It is not socialism which will save the African nations. China is not thriving because they are holding on to ancient economic strategies....they are thriving because they are learning that selling goods or services for a profit betters themselves and therefore others. Socialism results in isolationism and isolationism results in poverty.
Even Sweden, one of the best examples of a socialist economy/culture is realizing it is not working and is making huge moves towards more free trade, a supply and demand economy and less entitlement. Fortunately for them, they have the advantage of watching the US and other Western European countries, learning from us what works and what doesn't. Kind of like the youngest child of the family. Their new Social Security program will be light years ahead of ours because it is at least partially privatized. I would like to challenge you to read the renowned economist Ludwig Von Mises book "The Anti-Capitalist Mentality". I believe it fits you to a tee.
Capitalism works... as many have said it is capitalism which has pulled people out of their mud huts, not socialism. But we capitalists must have the education, the interest and the motivation to monitor it and alter its directions. And this is where we have failed. The CEOs have gilded their pockets BECAUSE WE LET THEM!!! How many of us with 401Ks or other stocks actually have the smallest idea into what companies our money is invested, how many shares we own, who the CEO is and how much he makes? How many of us sign those silly proxie voter cards and send them back so someone else rather than us can make the corporate decisions? I am as guilty as anyone. I contributed to the pillage. I also allowed the insurance companies to rape the medical profession because, out of fear, I signed up for managed care plans. I signed contracts with insurance companies so they could slit my throat. I was not vocal enough or did not educate others around me well enough so that they would make wiser decisions come election time. Nope, these CEOs and "vulgar capitalists" did not rape me...I bent over and winked.
It is the intrusion of government not the lack of it which has also contributed to the apparent lop-sided success of capitalism. When people expect, demand and empower government to take care of them, to provide everything to which they think they are ENTITLED, they lose the need to think for themselves. They no longer worry about the day-to-day complexities of their lives because they know, if they lose their job, the government will pay them not to work and it will feed them. If they invest money in a company, the government will insure their losses. And, if they abuse their health, the government will pay the bill to restore it. If there is one thing I could wish for the young people coming up now in this world it would be to learn how to think for yourself. Realize that for every action or decision you make, there are consequences. And I would spend a whole lot more time in school educating kids about finances, stocks, insurance, etc.
Anyway, sorry to all who found this boringly long and tedious. Just another rant by that old geezer. But, depite everything that is wrong in this country I still love it and I would not wish to live anywhere else. I still have some faith that it will find the right path again. GK?
Leslie
