Posted on 07/31/2010 9:45:57 PM PDT by Kaslin
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Elton John is leading yet another “British Invasion” in America.
He is “invading” American media and pop-culture circles with some very basic – and very healthy – attitudes and behaviors that affirm capitalism and American-styled free market enterprise.
Elton may seem like an unlikely spokesperson for such a noble agenda. Yet many of America’s most basic understandings of freedom and economic liberty are grounded in the words of another Brit – Adam Smith – whose magnum opus “The Wealth of Nations” was first published in the historically significant year of 1776.
So it’s amusing to consider that the Brit who seems to have been celebrating America’s 1976 bicentennial with the song “Philadelphia Freedom” (it sounded like a “bicentennial song” although in truth it was written about Billie Jean King’s professional tennis team the “Philadelphia Freedoms”), might be subtly awakening Americans today with some of the very basic, very “human” considerations of free market economics.
No matter, Elton’s attitude towards free-market enterprise can’t soon enough break-out all across the country, especially given the hostility to such things at the White House, and in the Congress.
In June, many in the media marveled at Elton’s “willingness” to perform at Rush Limbaugh’s wedding reception. People Magazine noted that Rush is a “conservative radio commentator” – which I suspect was People’s way of describing Rush in both a truncated, and intentionally pejorative fashion. Elton, on the other hand, was characterized in the same article as merely an “outspoken gay civil union advocate” (another fine way to truncate the accomplishments of yet another very talented person).
And now, in the midst of President Obama singling out and maligning and suing Arizona – along with some of Obama’s adoring fans among the ranks of artists and entertainers choosing to “boycott” Arizona -Elton has “broken with the crowd” yet again. Refusing to bow to such whims, Elton upheld his commitment to play his scheduled July 22nd concert date, and performed at Southern Arizona’s Tucson Arena.
“Musicians spread love and peace, and bring people together” Elton told the capacity crowd. “We are all very pleased to be playing in Arizona. I have read that some of the artists won’t come here. They are (expletive) twits!”
Think of what was entailed in Elton’s choice to play Arizona. In many ways we can say that Elton behaved “virtuously.” He had already made a commitment to perform a great show and give his fans what they wanted, in exchange for the purchase of a ticket. He upheld that commitment, and did not disappoint, despite what may or may not be his disagreements with current Arizona immigration law.
This basic, “virtuous” behavior was also entailed in Elton’s appearance at the Rush Limbaugh wedding reception. Elton had what Rush wanted – his music and talent – and Rush had what Elton wanted – a million dollars in compensation. Each party freely chose to do business with the other (in legal terms we would say they chose to “contract” with each other), and so far as the rest of us know, each party made good on their commitments.
Elton’s music didn’t survive another day because President Obama provided government funding for it. And Rush wasn’t forced by the I.R.S. to pay for something he didn’t want. No, two guys with some very different views about some public policy matters each had what the other wanted. So Elton did a “day’s work,” and Rush returned with a “day’s pay.”
This exercising of human free will, and choosing to behave virtuously in the process, happens in free market economic environments every day. I choose to live this way daily, and you probably do too.
In fact, if most of us didn’t make these kinds of choices every day, our civil society would not be as stable and self-sustaining as it is. And most of us are incentivized by free-market mechanisms to continue behaving this way, simply because in the free-market system I won’t get paid if I don’t do a good job, nor will I get the product or service I desire if I don’t pay the agreed-upon price.
And consider the social, “human” consequences of this type of enterprise. I’ve heard from several of my fellow talk radio colleagues who, being more privileged than I, were invited to attend Rush’s wedding. Every one of them have raved to me about how “cool” it was that, despite their ideological differences, Rush and Elton “reached out” to each other.
Yet this is precisely one of the most powerful and virtuous aspects of free-market enterprise – it brings together individuals, groups, and even entire nations of people who might otherwise be ambivalent or even hostile to each other, and unites them for a common purpose.
Last week Rush spoke on his program of Elton’s choice to play Arizona, and also noted receiving a thoughtful card that Elton had mailed from Los Angeles. “Sometimes I think Elton knows me better than people who have known me for ten years” Rush quipped.
Thank you Rush, and thank you Elton, for these very public lessons on economics, and life.
May the “invasion” of common sense continue.
;-)
Nobody is perfect, but give Elton credit. I think the Liberals might start hating him more than he is apparently hated here on FR.
Elton John stood up for Arizona last week. That’s all I need to know.
yeah, so do I
I always liked Elton even after I learned he was gay. Regardless of his sexuality , his music always indicated that he had a brilliant mind. You can tell he loves the idea of America in his song, “Philadelphia Freedom”.
Abolishing age of consent laws so grown men can have sex with boys doesn’t meet any standard of healthy I have ever subscribed to.
I will pass on NAMBLA boy.
He can be James Madison reincarnated..if he is a homo, pedo or tranny, he loses creditability in the eyes of conservatives. And rightfully so.
The point is he defends the Arizona law
I destroyed all my CDs I had of him when he started to bash President Bush
Why? Bush is no conservative. He left the borders wide open too. Does Ramon and Compean ring a bell?
I thought Adam Smith was Scottish.
I have to admit...my thinking of Elton John has done quite a turn after hearing Rush speak of the ordeal in Hawaii and the wedding.
And for his thumbing his nose at the bedwetters.
Elton John is a great poet and entertainer and apparently a pretty gutsy one as well.
I don't condone homosexuality but I'd never condemn someone merely for one sin that he or she will someday have to explain to their creator....it's not my call.
Or yours.
PS: You can believe whatever you will, but don't think that your beliefs determine the earth's rotation or anyone else's politics.
I nominate Norton for post of the week.
God didn’t destroy Sodom for their pedophiles (though I’m sure there were a few there), but rather their homosexuality, which was spreading disease and filth. Much worse of the two sins in my opinion. St Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians.
When did he endorse that?
I despise homosexuality, but the idea that your average homosexual man sympathizes with NAMBLA is as on-target as the ranting from Dems that Tea Partiers are racists.
Scotland is British, and the 18th century Scottish enlightenment philosophers were particularly enthusiastic about calling themselves British, as they saw the 1707 Act of Union as a sign of progress for a nation that had been notoriously backward and feudal before then...
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