So, two follow-ups to my post of this morning that exposed Bo Snerdley of the Rush Limbaugh program to be a truly ignorant illiterate. (You can read that here.)
First, I understand from increasingly addictive and necessary Cornell law professor William Jacobson that today Limbaugh points out Romney is saying that his experience as CEO of BAIN Capital is like what President Obama did with General Motors. So if you are Rush Limbaugh it is ok today to attack Romney. Just as long as us “mind numbed robots” get the proper memo to know what we are supposed to think. Sheesh.
Secondly, a former pro-Palinista blogger who I respect, admire and often agree with (MarkAmerica.com) writes that I am full of crap. Or something. He says specifically:
(to those who would say) “Well, capitalism is all well and good, but you still have to temper it with morality.” I want those purveyors of this opinion to pay closest attention to me, as I tell them that they’re shoveling manure. Capitalism reflects a system of morality, and if you don’t share it, fine, but do not pretend that it means something else. Do not take “capitalism” and twist the label to fit what is merely modified socialism. There is nothing wrong with profits, whether large or small, nor any size in between, provided only this: Those making profits do so by their own efforts and with their own wealth and property. That’s the morality of capitalism. It’s a morality I endorse entirely, and unreservedly. Do not offer to me that capitalism must be “tempered” by something. To temper a thing is to alter its fundamental structure.
My response? (You’ll enjoy this.)
It is just dishonest to say Gingrich is arguing from a socialist mindset. He has NEVER advocated government interference with business. HE IS arguing for the morality of how profits are made.
You damn Sarah Palin as she made the EXACT same point against in her speeches in Alaska running for Governor. Just because a company can screw the residents of Alaska doesn’t make it right.
You err in assuming that advocating responsible capitalism is the same as arguing for government interference. That is naive and certainly dangerous.
As I point out in my piece (here http://t.co/WJO898s) the REASON we have government encroachment is because of IRRESPONSIBLE capitalism. There is no need for a law to protect workers pensions if all employers are protecting those funds that the employees earned. However, with one greedy capitalist, society enacts a law to try and protect those workers AS IT SHOULD.
When government already controls these functions through socialism or communism, you still get greed – but now in different (multiple) ways that are far inferior.
Adams, de Tocqueville, Jefferson, Monroe ALL have said that FREEDOM doesn’t work if people do NOT self-regulate themselves.
Capitalism is NOT any more or less moral than dating or dieting. It is a system that can amplify the heart of it’s operator for bad or for good. There is a great story about Smith Wigglesworth the famous preacher who taught hellfire and brimstone sermons against sins. A group at a tavern wanted to tease him and waved money in front of him while taunting him to take it. Wigglesworth didn’t hesitate and grabbed. This shocked the gathering of sinners and they protested, “Smithy! Don’t you know that money came from drinking and gambling?” Wigglesworth didn’t hesitate a moment and said, “This money has served the devil too long. time for it serve God..”
You may like to divorce the philosophy or system of capitalism from God’s law but if you do – you are then serving Mammon. That is not just a philosophy but an actual demonic god. Which means you are motivated by selfish greed, rather than amassing that to A) provide a product or service beneficial to someone or B) to use your wealth to the betterment of society.
The problem with your analysis is that you stop at your devotion to capitalism only in contrast to socialism or communism. Freedom loving Patriotic Christian people understand that society and our country will NOT be helped by those whose sole goal is to amass wealth for themselves. Look at the Saudi Princes who conduct free market capitalism for themselves but use their capital to ONLY gratify themselves. They have to have a brutal police force and suspend “freedom” for the uneducated masses who are NOT served by a new 80 story Ritz Carlton shaped like a camel. They are free to do it – but “capitalism” used to only on selfish purposes creates anger and deprives the society of a greater good from those who would have started micro-capital lending built products and services that might not have garnered the most profit.
As an avowed conservative, free market CONSTITUTIONAL capitalist, I’m not buying what you think I should shovel. Not only will you convince people like me that ANYTHING that happens in any boardroom is sacrosanct under the capitalism sacraments you seem to worship, you risk the entire conservative brand name suggesting capitalism is inherently “good” regardless of how it is conducted. God’s law is replete with examples of God’s opinion about how capitalism works including:
The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
- Proverbs 11:26
I’m surprised you are this far distant from Palin’s views who herself said last night on Fox Business that the BAIN questioning was perfectly acceptable.
In my opinion it is not only acceptable, it is necessary.
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