Not that you don’t already know all this, but what the hell, right? Let’s hear it again. Fred Smith, CEI:
The problems we face come not from capitalism, Wall Street variety or any other, but rather from crony-capitalism.
Tea Partiers distinguish capitalism from crony-capitalism. Occupiers confuse them. In fact, some Occupiers seek their own form of cronyism — an expanded government that will help the “right” beneficiaries, such as students and homeowners, instead of bankers and automakers.
This sentiment is nothing new. Ralph Nader always notes that government helps big business but then argues for more government to fix the problem. How can this be wise, when government favoritism encouraged crony-capitalism in the first case?
Were the Occupiers and Partiers to find common ground in demanding repeal of all the special-interest policies that now entangle politics and business, competition would force the fat cats to diet and weed out those businessmen who rely on political clout to enrich themselves. After all, capitalism exists to allocate capital. Crony-capitalism misallocates it. Freeing the economy from that burden would make Wall Street investments more productive, allowing the American economy the opportunity to rebound.
The economist Joseph Schumpeter, in his essay “Can Capitalism Survive?”, warned long ago that too many business leaders would seek success through politics rather than competition, and that this would destroy true capitalism. Certainly, too many in Wall Street have succumbed to that temptation, and capitalism has suffered accordingly. But it suggests that Occupiers and the Tea Partiers share at least one common enemy. The Solyndra scandal illustrates that crony-capitalists are found far beyond Wall Street. Thus, instead of focusing on one small part of Manhattan Island, shouldn’t we liberate the whole American economy?
Somewhere in Alaska, a certain homespun snowbilly takes a break from stuffing venison sausages and smiles a knowing, snowbilly smile…
But we can’t have that! The Democrats would have a hissy-conniption fit, since a growing American economy is the source of all evil in the world.
Run run rudolph Sarah! Save the Christmases!
Besides, sdferr, economies need to be managed. Right down to the units of trade. Because of all the likelihood of recessions and depressions and such. Especially those rendered by one’s political opposition.
CREATE JOBS, OBAMA! CREATE JOBS!
It’s madness. Plus it’s Official Truth!
It’s sad that they’re so blinkered that they can’t recognize our shared enemy. Will they ever realize that they’re using a script written for them by the very people they should be protesting?
Occupiers confused? Maybe the idiots who can’t do more than emote, but the leaders and organizers aren’t.
They don’t want capitalism at all. Means too much independence of the unwashed masses.
Unwashed masses? President Obama, this is your Army!
Now take the sonofabitches out!
Now where’s the opportunity for graft in something like that?
Crazy talk, man; pure crazy talk.
Oh, look: another credentialed whore entertaining the Owwies. With a Nobel, no less!
Kanye ain’t got nuthin’ like that.
From the email archives Andrew’s gotten a hold of:
We started a class war and we better be ready to bring it home and finish it.
Who goes there?
– Whats all this palaver about Capitism….Its about free stuff stupid, they told me there’d be free stuff….
mv,
Do you think Barret Brown is part of that “Anonymous” hacker group refered to in your link