Virtuous Greed
What?
Now there are two words that shouldn’t go together. Technically they don’t, but read on and you’ll see what I mean.
I shouldn’t be, but somehow am still amazed that so many people think the government “loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” Liberals and moderates rail against corporate greed but somehow refuse to acknowledge it in government. Yet government greed is one of the most common, most historically pervasive forms of greed there is, and is largely responsible for the crony capitalism at play in our current economy. The thing with free market capitalism is that generally speaking, market forces (or the Invisible Hand) harness greed for the common good. Those who think capitalism just breeds greed are deluding themselves into thinking that the same is not the case (when it is in fact worse) at a government level.
Cases in point: consider the human rights issues in China, the military State in Cuba, the throngs of unhappy people in Venezuela, and the continually struggling economy in Russia. These are all great examples of the failure of the ideals of Communism and Socialism. Yet so many in the States are clamoring for a similar system, thinking…what? That we’ll do it better? In the case of a truly free market, the very greed that everyone seems to be so afraid of all but forces businesses to do good business. If they don’t, people won’t like them, won’t do business with them, and will force them out of business. It’s a great way to push those who are inclined towards greed to still make sound business decisions. It’s a way of almost pushing their greed towards virtue. Sound weird? Well, maybe my take on it is a little odd, but it’s the only economic system that has ever come close to working. Is it flawless? Not hardly. But in this culture where bad news spreads quickly over the various media we partake in, a company, corporation or otherwise, can not afford to make totally selfish decisions.
Now I am probably being a bit of an idealist here myself. This assumes a culture that gives a crap about where they put their money and their vote. Quite frankly, the trend to constantly turn to government for all of our social and economic ills just shows another brand of American laziness and lack of personal responsibility. But is the solution to just turn over the reins to an ever-increasing, ever-intrusive government as if they always have our best interests in mind? Really? Come on folks, power and money always go together so if the corporate fat cat is seen as such a bad thing, how can the political hack in office who is constantly hawking the policy du jour for the sake of a vote any different?
I know this post is basically more of the same from me, but it frustrates me just how much people continue to look to their government to save them when there is absolutely no historical precedent showing that such an idea has EVER worked. Yet laissez-faire economics have been proven to work (especially in the U.S. and Britain), though certainly not perfectly. No man-made, man-led system works perfectly but we have to consider historically what has come close and the way I see it, leaving anything in the hands of government never does.