Capitalism and Freedom

J brought up an interesting point in his comment to yesterday's post. In my response, I recommended that he look at "Capitalism and Freedom" by Milton Friedman. Part of our public school education included indoctrination of a healthy skepticism toward capitalism. Sorry to say, it just aint so. Take a few minutes to read the summary of Capitalism and Freedom on the Wiki web site. You'll be glad you did.

Big Buts

Remember that scene from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, where Pee-Wee and Simone are sitting and talking inside the head of that big dinosaur sculpture?

-- Simone: "You're right, but... "

-- Pee-Wee: "But what!? Everyone I know has a big but. Come on, Simone. Let’s talk about your big but."

Too many people these days seem to have a big but about capitalism and the free market. All over the news you hear people saying that they are big believers in the free market, but this economic crisis calls for drastic measures (i.e. government bailout).

Listen, either capitalism works, or it doesn't. Either the free market is the way to prosperity and liberty, or it is not. An economic crisis is not time for big buts. If there was ever a good time to embrace free markets and capitalism, it is now. If we are ever going to see our bright shiny bikes again, we are going to have to get off our buts, and let the free market do its thing.