Karl Marx and the false premise

Capitalism is not an 'ism.' It is closer to being the opposite of an 'ism,' because it is simply the freedom of ordinary people to make whatever economic transactions they can mutually agree to. -- Dr.Thomas Sowell

I have spent some time defending the notion of capitalism but have now discovered that it's a false premise. From now on, the question of "How do you defend capitalism", will be relegated to the wrong question heap. The real question is "how can you defend (or not defend) the free market?"

Here's an important distinction, put into play by Chris Whalen.

"Marx created the term 'capitalism'. It's a pejorative, insulting description that says all economic activity is a matter of greed," Whalen explains. "If you're any sort of libertarian. If you believe in American principles of democracy and free enterprise, just the fact we use the term 'capitalism' should insult you. We need new labels."

People are conditioned to blame "capitalists" for a lot of economic ills. To be sure, it's still the best descriptor for "Crony Capitalists", and many other such capitalists who are not of the free market variety. These would include Jeffrey Immelt, Warren Buffet, Ken Lay, and Bernie Madoff.

From now on, I am no longer a capitalist.

Pardon me, but..

It's not the kind of thing you really want to commemorate, is it? Every time our enemies see us wringing our hands over the missing towers, they can take deep satisfaction that we still feel the effects. Maybe, just maybe, we would have been better off clearing the space and putting up a Wendy's, a Starbucks, and a Walmart. That would have showed the bastards that they didnt leave a permanent dent in America.

I know one thing, the endless rehashing was irritating at best. This incessant decade-long weepathon is not something we want our enemies to count on every time they try to take us down, is it?