Constitutional Libertarianism

Constitutional Libertarianism

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Capitalism isn't as bad as people think it is, but it isn't all that great either.

What is "capitalism" when you really get down to it?

Capital is money and at it's most basic, capitalism is using money to make more money.

Investing is capitalism.

Making loans is capitalism.

Banking is capitalism.

Like so many other things, capitalism, on it's face isn't a "bad" thing.  It's a tool.  A method of doing things.

Like so many other tools, capitalism can be abused.  A shovel is just a tool to dig dirt until someone uses one to hit another person in the head with.  Then it has been abused and everyone will want to require shovels to be registered, licensed and restricted.

The bigger problem here isn't using money to make money.  As long as there are people willing to ask for and accept the capitalists offer, it will be a viable and promoted system.

No, the bigger problem is when other options of gaining necessary capital have been eliminated or made obsolete intentionally by the government so that entrepreneurs and other business people have no alternative but to resort to and rely on the capitalists in order to do business at all.

What has been happening in this country is that all levels of government have been acquiescing to corporate demands on everything from zoning to wages to insurance requirements and regulating to the point of absurdity.

This has created an environment of near "necessary" dependence on capitalists.  A business, especially small businesses, can't afford to comply with regulations and requirements  unless they have access to huge amounts of capital.

Going back to a point made just a few moments ago, where did a great many of those regulations and requirements come from?  Corporate lobbying of the government.  Keep in mind that corporate lobbyists are almost always paid and funded lobbyists.  Giving them greater access to elected representatives and goverment officials that the regular un-paid and "maybe" funded community lobbyist will ever have.

Take a look at many of the ordinance, legislative bills and Congressional bills that are being considered currently and those that have been considered and voted on in the past.  One interesting thing to find out about those bills and ordinances is who was lobbying for and against them at the time of their consideration.

It's amazing to see just where corporate lobbyists have tried to exert influence on things that, on the surface, may seem to be un-related to them.

As the old saying goes, follow the money.

The more requirements and regulations the government lays on the people, the more the people are require to resort to capitalists to loan or invest money because the costs related to compliance are so great, one cannot afford it on their own.  Unless they are a capitalist themselves.

Go to your local library sometime and look up business trade names and ownership.  Find out who owns what and pay attention to how many corporations have become capitalists in their own right.  Buying and selling other companies, investing and making loans of their own, lobbying the government to regulate, require and register all areas of daily life thereby ensuring people will have to come to them to purchase or request funds from them.

Yes, capitalism is being abused badly in the U.S.A. and it's not just the "bad boys" who care only for money who are to blame.

It is our own elected representatives and government employees who cater to and capitulate with these abusers to make it possible as well.

No,  I am not against capitalism at is basic as one of several tools for people to engage in business in America.

I am against it being the only or primary tool and the government selling out to capitalists in order to put and keep capitalism in that position.

America grew and thrived not because of capitalism, but because of entrepreneur-ism.  The average person being able to put a product oraervice as a business up and through a combination of blood, sweat, tears and yes, money, become successful on their own right  to become an source of stability and support for their family and their community.

It's that kind of creativity and investment of self that built America.  Capitalism, especially back then, was only one part of the equation and it wasn't required for everyone to rely on capitalists to succeed.

Not anymore.

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