Capitalism with Character

We approach our annual celebration of the event that declared us a separate and equal country in the community of countries – the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  We are over and over amazed at the wisdom our founders had as they crafted a republic and her guiding documents – especially the Constitution.  We shoot fireworks, eat hotdogs, and kick-back with family and friends often seldom thinking about our rich heritage and the many blessings that have people from all over the world wishing they could live here.  Yet today, there is a growing disillusionment about our country and her principles primarily among those younger.  Today we are hearing more and more about socialism and the “evils” of capitalism.  WHY?

I’m a capitalist and desire that the USA remain a capitalist country.  Capitalism is free enterprise with limited governmental oversight and regulation allowing innovation, attempts, failures, and the freedom of movement of workers whereby they can “vote” on a boss by their continued services.

I admit that capitalism can be a problem and in some ways is a problem.  There is no perfect system for all systems are composed of imperfect people.  In any system, there are those who are cunning and aggressive enough to work the system for their benefit at the expense of others.  Capitalism is not exempt.  For instance, when a CEO lands a fat contract with a company and then proceeds to destroy the company and walk away with millions leaving the laborers holding an empty bag – that is bad wrong!

Capitalism can and does foster some who are filthy rich and they can become dictatorial and evil.  They can buy off politicians, buy votes, buy their way out of court troubles, and manipulate the public with advertising and goodies.  They can live in gated areas while people around them huddle in lean-to’s around their compound walls (I saw that many places in Thailand).

While capitalism can be evil, it is not automatically evil.  There have been and are many self-made successful and rich people who do wonderful things for masses of people in their neighborhood and around the world.  After all, Abraham, Job, David, Zebedee, and Solomon were very rich and were never condemned by God or Jesus.

Capitalism without character is dangerous.  And what is Character?

Character is manners, morals, and a good work ethic.

Character is thankfulness, submission, and commitment.

Character is being thoughtful of others (having sympathy and empathy), being merciful (not giving what they do deserve – not fire them when they easily could), and being a giver (giving what they don’t deserve – a bonus).  Generally character flows from the Bible and the life of Jesus and His followers.  With the Bible being removed and God’s people less impacted by the Bible, Character is slipping.

Character with capitalism builds a great middle class, gives all men hope for a better tomorrow for them and for their children, and moves at least some poor out of poverty (some will not move and can’t be moved – “you will always have the poor” said Jesus).

Now comes socialism which uses words such as “free”, “love”, “compassion”, “justice”, and “equality”. The problem is that the definition of each word is not clear.  “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” (Inigo Montoya in “Princess Bride”).  Take the word “free” – Free for all?  Free forever?  Free with absolutely no strings?  What about the word “love”?

Socialism argues for: free tuition, free health care, student loan forgiveness, free access into the country, freedom for everyone to vote.  And who pays?  People use the ballot box to extract money from the 1% who supposedly “deserve” to pay more.  Or the government finds the will to print more inflationary money.

It is Capitalism with Character that has made us great and can do so in the future.  Happy 4th!