Amen. You’ve described many of the commenters here to a tee.

I think I’m done with this thread. It’s dissapointing that one can’t
ask reasonable questions about the merits of capitalism without being
charged with socialist sympathies.

So many things turn on the smallest things and we never know what those may be until the turn is made and we don’t approve of the direction.

I was taught as a kid in paying attention to all the details that, “for the want of the nail the shoe was lost, for the want of the shoe, the horse was lost, for the want of the horse the rider was lost, for want of the rider the message was lost, for want of the message the battle was lost, for want of the battle the war was lost, for want of the victory the people became slaves.”

Are Listerine Breath mint strips the nail in some job seekers life?

I appreciate what Don is doing here by reminding people, and countering the claims of the left that capitalism is evil, that their world is made infinitely better in so many ways, some so tiny and casual that we all miss them, yet there they are.

If it bores you, pass on. Hooray for capitalism (and freedom)!

I wonder about people who can not see that all the small things as well as the large things are created (invented), all come from one individual’s desire to create, develop, and market a product that will make him a profit. Capitalism.

Even in the extremely rare circumstances where someone is already wealthy, or with that rare lack of concern for personal security, do we ever see a product created, developed, and marketed with no intent by the creator to benefit from the profits, which he donates to a cause of his choosing. An example of this would be Newman’s Own series of salad dressings. Not too many broke and destitute people forego the profits of their creations.

However, even in these circumstances it would be a lie to say they do not make a profit, because the profits are what are donated.

Capitalism is huge and capitalism is tiny, but it all has the same foundation and that is the desire of the individual to profit on his day.

Without profit there is no capital,
Without capital there is no capitalism.

Nevertheless, I concur with “horray for capitalism” It’s a fun series, and it doesn’t have to be all things to all people. But if one wanted to take it farther, they certainly could.

1. Listerine strips are good.
2. Without capitalism, there would be no listerine strips.
3. Without capitalism, there would be nothing good in the world.

No contempt for markets here. But your series has been nothing more than an exercise in the following:

1. See X.
2. X is good.
3. Hooray for capitalism.

I’m not sure there are many intellectually honest people who don’t believe that capitalism makes our lives better in many ways. But it seems to me that this series began in response to the belief that “pure, unregulated markets pose special problems for the health of the natural environment.” In other words, you’ve lost focus if you’re now positing Listerine strips as justification for a feel-good mentality when it comes to capitalism and the environment.

So, following your line of thought, if we stop drinking coffee, they become poorer, and unable to buy toothpaste. Their breath then stinks while yours might smell better.

So the question becomes whose breath must suffer purely to satisfy your desire to smooz, with clean breath, that cute receptionist in your company while your long suffering wife waits at home with your devastated kids?

Meanwhile Columbians and Costa Ricans starve with bad breath all because of your vanity.

Heartless bastard you turned out to be, eh?