Posted on 12/12/2025 2:52:43 PM PST by T Ruth
The word “capitalism” was invented by leftists to disparage Europe’s predominant economic system in the 19th century. While he didn’t invent the word, Karl Marx was its main popularizer. So the term was originally intended, and has always been used by the Left, as a term of disparagement. Nevertheless, conservatives have generally adopted the word “capitalism” and have sought to defend it.
Meanwhile, throughout the 20th century, “socialism” ... was anathema in America. More recently, polls have suggested that, as a result of far-left indoctrination in the schools, many young Americans have become enamored of socialism.
We decided to test these concepts with voters in the Thinking Minnesota Poll that will be released in a few weeks. We asked Minnesotans whether they have a favorable or unfavorable view of capitalism, free enterprise, socialism and communism. ...
We included the term “free enterprise” at my suggestion, as I generally use that term rather than “capitalism.” I have long thought that conservatives’ adoption of the Left’s pejorative “capitalism” was a mistake, and that “free enterprise” would resonate positively with more Americans. [emphasis added] The results of our poll support that view.
Overall, these are the favorable/unfavorable percentages for each of the four ideologies among the entire sample group:
Free enterprise: 69%/11%
Capitalism: 58%/29%
Socialism: 34%/53%
Communism: 6%/82%
***
While considerably more Americans approve of free enterprise than socialism, that disparity declines with age. These are the percentages who say they approve of free enterprise, by age group:
65+: 86%
55-64: 82%
45-54: 66%
35-44: 59%
18-34: 42%
It seems clear that we are in the process of losing the culture that has made America both prosperous and free.
(Excerpt) Read more at powerlineblog.com ...
Another variable is people learn more about reality as they grow older...
Patriots should never use the Marxist/Leftist diversionary term “capitalism”.
Pursuits free from gov’t interference should be called “Free Market Economy” or “Free Enterprise”.
Agree...Eventually, the aspect working one’s a$$ off so others can sit on theirs loses its appeal.
I always say “free enterprise.”
Marx was a bad economist. He said all value came from labor. That is false, in many ways.
For one thing he did not recognize “economic rent.” This is not rent in the normal sense. Economic rent is the return to a factor limited in supply. An example would be a natural deepwater port. Think of cities such as Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc. You could try to deliver goods any place along the coast but you would not be as productive. The labor would be the same but the value far less.
Marx also hated interest and profit. However, there is nothing wrong with either.
When I was young it made sense for me to borrow and pay interest in order to buy a house. In my later years it makes sense for me to lend, because I am paid interest.
Profit is merely what is left after expenses. Manage better and you will have something left over. As an example, you could go out every time you need something. It would cost time and gas, but you would have rapid gratification. On the other hand, you could wait, plan. You can then go out once, making multiple stops and buying multiple items. You would save yourself a lot of time and have gas left over. It would profit you to combine trips.
Does anyone who thinks about it think than an hour of Bob’s time is always equally productive? Does Bob’s hour equal Sarah’s. If every television show took the same number of hours to produce, would they be equally valuable?
Church scholars centuries before Marx knew better. Value is in the eye of the beholder.
The simple way to understand it is that if you don’t have property rights, you have no freedoms or control over your life.
So not just life and liberty but also property are fundamental to individual freedom and rights.
Good points.
Ask the question more specific. “Do you favor a system where the exchange of goods and services is done by a freely given agreement between parties or do you prefer a system where the government compels you to exchange your services or goods for a value determined by politicians who have no idea, and don’t care, what they are worth?”
Exactly.
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution puts property rights on a par with the rights to life and liberty:
"nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
Even the DoI originally had “life, liberty and property” in it.
Free Market vs Government controlled market or even NO market!
Our side traditionally never fought to keep words from being politicized.
The words “monopoly”, “liberal”, and “democracy/republic” just to name a few. We could’ve protected these words. But we didn’t. Now we have to deal with the fallout of these failures.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.