Give the people what they want

Perhaps we have to lose everything before we can begin to get it back.

I have been frustrated over the years by the fact that capitalists have not done much to defend or communicate their beliefs. Maybe they don't understand them themselves. Capitalism is not all about money. It's about freedom and creativity and an economic system that compliments human nature rather than trying to suppress it.

However, I'm beginning to believe that there might be some wisdom in standing down and letting the people have what they think they want. What they think they want is security. They want to be fed, housed and cared for. They don't want to have to stress and worry about how to take care of themselves and their families. They believe that the government can make this happen.

The fact is, the more the government takes over the functions of the free market, the worse our economic situation is going to get. Incentives for producers are rapidly disappearing. The level of government debt is getting so enormous that any sector, industry, company or individual that has a degree of success better than average is going to be targeted a revenue source. Eventually, we may indeed all be more equal. We will be equally poor. We will have a Soviet style society where toilet paper is a hot commodity. Health care will be free, and dangerous. You will be employed, but the government will tell you where you'll work, what you'll produce and to what specifications. This will come about as more and more industries are "temporarily" nationalized for the public good.

But, enough with the dire predictions. There's nothing left to do now but watch it play out. This is what the people demanded. I believe we will find out fairly quickly if what they thought they wanted was what they really wanted. You can have all the security you asked for. All it will cost you is your self.