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Mr. President, Private Profits Are Morally Superior To Public Services
Forbes ^ | 09/15/2011 | Bill Flax

Posted on 09/16/2011 3:50:29 AM PDT by billflax

To hear politicians, you’d think if Washington didn’t shield helpless citizens from corporate depredations many an innocent life would be ruined. But businesses aren’t enemies conniving to exploit hapless workers and extract unwarranted profits. Businesses work feverishly developing products consumers desire.

Companies not only sell us ways to beautify and improve life, they also offer the means empowering us to acquire such articles: employment. Markets serve the interests of others, by seeking one’s own advancement. Profits accumulate when customers fancy our output. We gain by serving our neighbors.

Whether a company builds what customers willingly purchase, or workers sell their efforts, markets compensate those enhancing value. We profit commensurately to what we produce. In capitalism, it’s not necessarily those exhibiting superior virtue that thrive, but a correlation links earnings to the benefit provided.

We transact expecting to gain. We buy something because we believe it worth more than the expense. When we sell our wares or perform services, we clearly think so too. Assuming enterprise is entered freely and measured fairly it is likely that both parties benefit. Otherwise, they would trade or toil elsewhere.

Markets spin webs of interlocking dependencies bonding complete strangers in harmonious commerce, strengthening communities and enriching our earthly experience. By dividing labor’s duties, market participants contribute socially by pursuing personal goals. We use what talents we possess assisting others achieve their ends.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: capitalism; constitution; obama; taxes; teaparty; teapartyexpress; tyranny
Markets and freedom are moral issues far surpassing the public redistribution of wealth.
1 posted on 09/16/2011 3:50:36 AM PDT by billflax
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To: billflax
businesses aren’t enemies conniving to exploit hapless workers and extract unwarranted profits

Any good Marxist believes exactly that. Which explains much of what Obama is doing.

2 posted on 09/16/2011 3:54:26 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (The USSR spent itself into bankruptcy and collapsed -- and aren't we on the same path now?)
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To: billflax
businesses aren’t enemies conniving to exploit hapless workers and extract unwarranted profits

Not generally. But a few are.

On the other hand, while private enterprise is certainly to be favored over government enterprise as a general rule, not all activities of government are evil and harmful. And certainly, everybody working for government are not useless parasites.

Both sides tend to overstate their cases as absolutes. I believe that reality lies in the middle ground between the Manichaeistic visions of the AFL-CIO and Forbes Magazine.

3 posted on 09/16/2011 4:13:02 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
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To: billflax

“Without wealth’s allure, no production occurs and thus no progress materializes. Those lifting their others’ living standards ought to be rewarded”

Albert Camus: “It is a kind of spiritual snobbery that makes people think they can be happy without money.”


4 posted on 09/16/2011 4:14:41 AM PDT by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change. " Robert Anthony)
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To: billflax

I see capitalism as simply meaning economic freedom.

People try to make it a dirty word but it isn’t - unless you are against freedom.


5 posted on 09/16/2011 4:14:51 AM PDT by DB
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To: billflax

Thank you!


6 posted on 09/16/2011 4:15:47 AM PDT by vanilla swirl (We are the Patrick Henry we have been waiting for!)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

I believe the boundary lies in the constitution.

And not busybodies who think they are entitled to other peoples labors.


7 posted on 09/16/2011 4:16:52 AM PDT by DB
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Excellent piece. So basic and yet so lost on most people today. Too bad that the people who need to read this the most, will understand it the least.


8 posted on 09/16/2011 4:33:04 AM PDT by stranger and pilgrim
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To: billflax
Trying to tell that to a doctrinaire Marxist like Obama gets you nowhere. The evil of private capital and the goodness of government is a central tenet of his religion, to be taken axiomatically.

Obama's increasing shrillness and desperation result from his discovery that (a) fewer and fewer people want his Marxist remedies; and (b) they don't work even when he gets what he wants. That doesn't fit with his world view, and for the true ideologue, everything must be made to fit into the world view, with a sledgehammer if necessary.

I'm sorry my fellow citizens were such idiots as to elect this doctrinaire leftist fool.

9 posted on 09/16/2011 5:06:09 AM PDT by Campion ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies when they become fashions." -- GKC)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

Judge Chamberlain Haller: Mr. Gambini?
Vinny Gambini: Yes, sir?
Judge Chamberlain Haller: That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection.
Vinny Gambini: Thank you, sir.
Judge Chamberlain Haller: Overruled.


10 posted on 09/16/2011 6:11:36 AM PDT by OnlyTurkeysHaveLeftWings
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