Comments on: Rent-Seekers’ Orgy of Raping and Pillaging http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/rent-seekers-orgy-of-raping-and-pillaging.html where orders emerge Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/rent-seekers-orgy-of-raping-and-pillaging.html/comment-page-1#comment-184120 Anonymous Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:27:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=6686#comment-184120 You mean they are only trying to function as best they can within the system imposed upon them? You mean they are only trying to function as best they can within the system imposed upon them?

]]> By: Jeff http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/rent-seekers-orgy-of-raping-and-pillaging.html/comment-page-1#comment-184117 Jeff Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:40:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=6686#comment-184117 I've said it many times before, and been misunderstood as an opponent of capitalism. More often than not, businessmen are not capitalists. More often than not, businesses thieve from citizens using the long arm of the law. More often than not, big businesses (not the adjective modifier please) succeed by regulation not by satisfying customer with goods. There exists a capitalist critique of big business and the common, anti-capitalistic practices of businessmen. When we fail to identify and publicly criticize anti-capitalistic practices by businessmen, we sow the seeds of socialism. The average citizen knows quite well that large business interests have an inordinate say in crafting regulations. The average guy knows why hugely wealthy finance companies got bailouts but he didn't. The average Joe knows that (1) he cannot stop large business interests from taking his money to further enrich billionaire corporations and millionaire corporate managers, (2) he can never muster the political power to repeal regulations that disadvantage him against larger enterprises, (3) all that is left for the average guy is more regulation. He doesn't see a battle between liberty and socialism. He sees a battle between regulations that hurt him and regulations that don't hurt him. Any objective observe has to admit he's right. Lots of free trade advocates have ignored this problem. I did for many years, myself. I’ve said it many times before, and been misunderstood as an opponent of capitalism. More often than not, businessmen are not capitalists. More often than not, businesses thieve from citizens using the long arm of the law. More often than not, big businesses (not the adjective modifier please) succeed by regulation not by satisfying customer with goods.

There exists a capitalist critique of big business and the common, anti-capitalistic practices of businessmen.

When we fail to identify and publicly criticize anti-capitalistic practices by businessmen, we sow the seeds of socialism. The average citizen knows quite well that large business interests have an inordinate say in crafting regulations. The average guy knows why hugely wealthy finance companies got bailouts but he didn’t.

The average Joe knows that (1) he cannot stop large business interests from taking his money to further enrich billionaire corporations and millionaire corporate managers, (2) he can never muster the political power to repeal regulations that disadvantage him against larger enterprises, (3) all that is left for the average guy is more regulation.

He doesn’t see a battle between liberty and socialism. He sees a battle between regulations that hurt him and regulations that don’t hurt him.

Any objective observe has to admit he’s right. Lots of free trade advocates have ignored this problem. I did for many years, myself.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/rent-seekers-orgy-of-raping-and-pillaging.html/comment-page-1#comment-184103 Anonymous Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:35:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=6686#comment-184103 That's a fight you aren't going to win, Randy. The label has been attached and the label is capitalism. The left has always had the privilege of labeling and that label become the common used. I personally have no problem with the label, capitalism. The label is not the problem, the ignorance about the process, the tool, is the problem. Besides I would submit the truth that the stigma attached to socialism and communism is for more severe and negative than that attached to capitalism. The proof of that is the way the left has run from communism to socialism, to liberal, to democrat, and now to progressive. they run from the truth like scared rabbits when they look a man in the eye who knows what they are. That’s a fight you aren’t going to win, Randy. The label has been attached and the label is capitalism. The left has always had the privilege of labeling and that label become the common used.

I personally have no problem with the label, capitalism. The label is not the problem, the ignorance about the process, the tool, is the problem. Besides I would submit the truth that the stigma attached to socialism and communism is for more severe and negative than that attached to capitalism.

The proof of that is the way the left has run from communism to socialism, to liberal, to democrat, and now to progressive. they run from the truth like scared rabbits when they look a man in the eye who knows what they are.

]]> By: Anonymous http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/rent-seekers-orgy-of-raping-and-pillaging.html/comment-page-1#comment-184093 Anonymous Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:15:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=6686#comment-184093 I guess it depends on if you define "capitalism" as free enterprise or just free people. To me it has morphed to the latter in the eyes of both its adherents and detractors. A unit of capitalism is a unit of liberty. It is a transaction free from unwanted third party interference. Defined that way, it is a continuum, and populations can be more or less free (or capitalistic). I guess it depends on if you define “capitalism” as free enterprise or just free people. To me it has morphed to the latter in the eyes of both its adherents and detractors. A unit of capitalism is a unit of liberty. It is a transaction free from unwanted third party interference. Defined that way, it is a continuum, and populations can be more or less free (or capitalistic).

]]> By: Randy http://cafehayek.com/2009/10/rent-seekers-orgy-of-raping-and-pillaging.html/comment-page-1#comment-184074 Randy Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:34:00 +0000 http://cafehayek.com/?p=6686#comment-184074 I get where you're coming from, Vidyohs, but I've never liked the term "Capitalism" anyway. It always seemed to me like more of a communist propaganda word than a useful description of what a free market system is all about. The word implies that "capital" is the objective. It isn't. Capital is just a tool. Wealth is the objective, and wealth comes in many forms. I get where you’re coming from, Vidyohs, but I’ve never liked the term “Capitalism” anyway. It always seemed to me like more of a communist propaganda word than a useful description of what a free market system is all about. The word implies that “capital” is the objective. It isn’t. Capital is just a tool. Wealth is the objective, and wealth comes in many forms.

]]>