Make Mine Freedom

With all of the hoopla surrounding the new Michael Moore movie ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’, I can’t help but wonder how we got where we are today. Any person out there in the “real world” must ask themselves some very important questions.

Michael Moore makes millions of dollars creating a movie about the evils of capitalism, and yet, this is the very system that allowed him to create this movie. Would any socialistic or communistic government allow a film maker to dare criticize their system? Not likely. In fact, this could possible land them in front of a firing squad. Funny how the people who question or ridicule our free market system, are the very people that couldn’t have succeeded without it.

How can anyone think that completely turning over our economic system to the government would solve anything? As a person that actually owns their own business, I would like to give you my version of capitalism and the free market, verses a government run society.

First, do not be fooled. The government bailouts of large corporations are not what the free market capitalists would ever support. Owning your own business is risky, tiring, and takes a lot of commitment. You do the best you can, hope for the best you can, and with commitment and dedication, your business (it say’s here in the brochure) should succeed. However, just like many other things in life, there is no guarantee. If your business fails, then you must move on. This not only helps one learn from their mistakes, but it also builds character, and will hopefully make you even wiser and stronger than before. This is life.

My husband and I own two small businesses. We are among 70% of the population in America that works for and owns a small business, and supports the free market system. If 70% of the population no longer worked for or owned small businesses, and the government supplied all of the jobs and work force, where would this money come from? The government does not make money. All of the money they receive is from you and I, the workers, and business owners of America.

Secondly, if you no longer work for a capitalist, whom shall you work for? You would be working for the government. Why do some feel this could possibly be better? Let’s play out a scenario here for a moment. Let’s say you are a salesman at a car dealership, and you are paid on commission. You have worked at the dealership longer than anyone else and have built up quite a clientele. Obviously, the more cars you sell the more money you make. Now, one day your boss says, “there have been many complaints from the other salesmen and women, that several of you have been making more money than they have. Starting today, whenever a car is sold, that commission will go into a pot and at the end of the week we will divide this up among all of the sales people.” The first week you sell 10 cars, Susan sells 6, Mark sells 5 and on average, everyone else sells 3 cars each. At the end of the week, the pot is split up and everyone splits all of the commissions. This goes on for a few months. You, Susan and Mark are still selling more cars than everyone else, and working longer hours. Finally, you ask yourself why you should put in all of these long hours. (I was wondering when you were going to ask that question). After all, if everyone makes the same amount of money, why shouldn’t you get to enjoy yourself at happy hour too? The next week the pot is split, but because you haven’t been putting in the long hours, you only sell 4 cars that week. The rest of the crew works even less because they know you will take up the slack. The pot has grown smaller. The next week Susan asks herself the same question and she decides to join everyone else for happy hour. The pot has now grown much smaller. The next week Mark asks himself the same question and decides why should he be the only one working the long hours. So what has happened here? Production has gone down because there is no longer an incentive to work hard. Why should you put in all of the time and effort for everyone else that chooses to goof around? This is no longer a free market system. This is the very foundation of what a socialistic society is. If everyone works for the government, where is the incentive to work harder for the American dream? As you can see by this example, production has gone down and now the money you were making to buy your own home, take your family on vacation, the extra things in life that makes working all worthwhile, is no longer available to you. You make what the government “feels” is enough to survive. Why would anyone choose this?

Thirdly, do not kid yourself. There will always be poverty in all nations, and anyone that thinks a government run society will make things better, is completely unaware. If you need proof, look at China, Russia, Mexico, and Korea, just to name a few. Do you honestly feel they are better off than we are in America? It simply switches positions, only with the government running the show; you no longer have the freedom of choice.

Our government is corrupt and has been for some time. Bailing out large corporations is not going to stimulate our economy. It is a foot in the door to a socialistic agenda, and I know not one capitalist that believes the bailouts were for our own good. Our nation has survived and succeeded because of capitalism for over 200 years. It is, and has been the progressive movement towards a socialistic society that has brought our economy and nation to the very place we are today. Do you truly feel the government knows what is best for you and your family? In the 1950’s most families survived rather well on one income. Since that time, the government has slowly added more taxes, and regulations and has intervened into our personal lives, which now makes it barely possible for many families to survive with two incomes. In many instances, it is no longer a choice of whether both parents will work, it is now a necessity and means of survival. How did we get here? It is the progressive movement that has brought us to where we are today. In all actuality, more government means more burdens.

We are individuals. One size does not fill all. Look around. Do you truly want to live in an oppressed society? Do your homework. After all, this is not only your freedom that hangs in the balance; it is your children and your grandchildren’s, freedom as well.