Capitalism, A Forgotten Value

Capitalism, A Forgotten Value

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism

I have to chuckle when I listen to the business community and/or the government, specifically when either talks about capitalism.

Capitalism is something our founders understood. For a brief, maybe one hundred years or so following them, so did most Americans. They understood what it is as well as the value it gave to a free society.

However, after 1900 or thereabouts something changed. I think we all know what it was that began to slowing erode capitalism until today we have only a shell of real capitalism; a perverted shell at that.

Yes, certainly I blame the anti capitalist government mentality that took hold and ultimately grew in America, much to its great detriment. I also blame equally the businessmen and the manufacturers that once were responsible for this nation's prosperity and the creation of national wealth {those who produce} because they became willing partners in the efforts that served to eliminate true capitalism.

By asking for and accepting favors in the form government subsidies, business played into the hands of the progressive elements of society and a progressive socialistic government and in the process played their cards against the best interest of capitalism, the American people, and a free society.

Consider the following from Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal: "I said that the "liberals" are coining and spreading the "anti concepts" in order to smuggle this country into statism by an imperceptible process - and that the primary target marked for obliteration is thew concept of "capitalism," which if lost would carry away with it the knowledge that a free society can and did exist."


Consider as well this, again from Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal: "No "anti concept" launched by the "liberals" goes so far so crudely as the tag "consumerism." It implies loudly and clearly that the status of "consumer" is separate from and superior to the status of "producer"; it suggests a social system dedicated to the service of a new aristocracy which is distinguished by the ability to "consume" and vested with a special claim on the castes serfs marked by the ability to produce. If taken seriously, such a tag would lead to the ultimate absurdity of the communists proclaiming: "Who does not toil, shall not eat" - and the alleged representatives of capitalism replying: "Oh yes he shall!"

Anyone truly interested in understanding true capitalism and its force for good should read Ayn Rand's book, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

I vaguely recall a time when the banking industry was lauded as "Pillars of the Community." Well, given the recent past and the financial meltdown I suppose we can all agree the neither banking industry nor the financial industry in general represent any such "pillars." Rather they, as well as the government represent corruption and control. Today neither represent anything even close to an understanding of what true capitalism is.


Consider the following from the third President of these United States, Thomas Jefferson.... "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1821

Indeed, if President Thomas Jefferson and Ayn Rand where with us today there is no doubt but they would be appalled at the Corporatism, Crony Capitalism, Anti Concepts, and lack of Intellectual Honesty that currently pervades our society.

Unfortunately neither modern liberals nor modern conservatives are talking honestly and rationally on the issues herein introduced. This is not all that surprising if one thinks about it. After all, as we have grown to observe {assuming we have observed reality at all}, regardless of party, ideology, or level of awareness it is likely that all roads eventually converge at the same point. The failure to reexamine the principles of capitalism. and allow a true capitalism to again take root and eventually flourish will, at a not to distant time, result in our society becoming {willingly} enslaved to the corporatist, crony capitalist, and the anti-concept snake oil salesmen.

The choice we make must be that of people. The road we choose to take rests with us. Isn't it time that all Americans that truly long for a better more prosperous future take action to insure we remain a free people. A people at liberty to choose the course of or life and succeed own our own merit and hard work.

This is The United States of America. We can accomplish great things if we renounce emotionalism and lead our lives and our nation by rational concepts. Concepts borne of physical reality and determined to be true based on cognitive reasoning and logic.

Cross posted to Rational Nation USA and Democracy Central