Wisdom of the ages,

Most Capitalist ideas are just common sense. Common sense that has been around for quite a long time. Take a look at this ancient African proverb:

"He who is carried on another's back does not appreciate how far off the town is."

That's a good lesson in economics. When a person isn't paying their own way, they fail to see the world as a rational mind would see it. Why should they consider the consequences of their actions when someone else will suffer the consequences for them? One of the many down sides to government hand outs.


When it comes to our out of control tax system the late Bob Hope said it best:

"I have the perfect simplified tax form for government. Why don't they just print our money with a return address on it?"

That's a man that had a proper view of government and its side effects.

Bob Hope

Looks can be deceiving,

The entitlement mentality has been common in America for a long time. People feel entitled to health care, housing,...Etc. (some even feel entitled to cell phone services!) I've often mentioned on this blog how FDR's New Deal set into motion the welfare state we now have. But in my opinion the single most responsible thing for the entitlement mentality, is the illusion of free. Many people don't consider that every product and service has a cost to be paid. If free health care was truly "free", I would be all for it. But it's not free at all. Not when we as tax payers are paying the tab for others. Others who sometimes cheat the system to get unneeded health services.

Save Us Joe Louis........

Joe Louis was an excellent example of someone who understood Capitalism and Freedom. Being a black American born and raised in Alabamba, he overcame racial prejudice to become world boxing champion. Louis's life is also a good illustration of why big government is a flop. Louis was often critical of FDR's New Deal big government programs. As a result of his hard work, and belief in the human spirit, Louis was loved everywhere; even in the South. Sadly he was taxed heavily by the IRS to the point of becoming broke; once the New Deal came along, people like Louis had to foot the bill for the "less fortunate".

In Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King, King has this extraordinary passage:

"More than 25 years ago, on of the southern states adopted a new method of capital punishment. Poison gas supplanted the gallows. In its earliest stages a microphone was placed inside the sealed death chamber so that scientific observers might hear the words of the dying prisoner to judge how the victim reacted in this novel situation. The first victim was a young Negro. As the pellet dropped into the container, and the gas curled upward, through the microphone came these words. "Save me Joe Louis. Save me Joe Louis. Save me Joe Louis."
(courtesy of http://www.edgeofsports.com/ )

Rights (and wrongs),

Today we have a lot of people who don't produce anything, while they demand the right to have what others produce. Such people don't recognize private property rights. Not a favorite term these days. Everyone benefits from private property rights even those who don't own property. American farmers supply grocery stores with fresh food at affordable prices because they can make money from their property. As a result the poor aren't lowered to dumpster diving to find affordable food. In the Soviet Union there was a lot of fertile land for food to grow, yet people starved. That's called Communism.

In short,

To whittle down the character of a Capitalist to a bumper sticker slogan, read the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

If only such wisdom was common among people today. Unfortunately we've been taught to look to the government to meet our needs in challenging times. We sure could use another Dr. King today, to possibly wake us up to reality.


Martin Luther King Jr.

Suggested reading,

If you have a passion for Capitalism's Truths, then read Ayn Rand's Anthem; (if you haven't already) I just got around to reading it and like most of Ayn Rand's work it makes a good case for Capitalism. It concerns a young man who dares to be an individual in a world that demands communist-like behavior and sameness among people. That young man is the hero of the story and shines brightly by being a living example of what untapped human potential can do. I liked Anthem and feel strongly that you will too.

Taking the blinders off,

Many Americans (unfortunately) have their blinders on when it comes to looking at how we should treat the recent victims of hurricane Katrina. Many Americans feel that the government should make them whole; meaning the government ought to restore all people to their original condition before the disaster. Why do Americans believe such things? In short, because those same Americans don't believe in individual effort and its power. Life guarantees nothing; the only true dependence comes from within a person. Capitalism recognizes this fact; Capitalism takes the blinders off of people.