And to the idea that the lobbying and special treatment is somehow bad, and we should alter it, how can we if we don't have a squabble for resources ? Do you see opportunities, and firms competing for them ? I see immense risk-aversion and fear. The system can try (through tax cuts etc.) but can't really *make* that risk-aversion alter. As for the system, it's always self-serving. When growth slows down, we become more aware of it. It's a constant; it's our awareness that changes.

Hi Mike, two things : 1) our system *is* working. Lobbyists are doing their job, capital is flowing freely to where the best returns can be made (bailouts, backroom deals). 2) China is hardly an example of capitalism at work. If you have more than one child, your colleagues get no bonuses (no joke). How's that for interference to market forces ? It's a long stretch to argue China's growth is somehow due to capitalism working better.

David,..The Chinese comment was something similiar to an idea I had and it was just interesting to read that statement. Regarding the Austrian School and Ms. Rand, i must admit to my ignorance, but I will look into it. Also I don't understand your comments about Mr Smith,...not capitalist???

Mike, I agree with what you wrote, additionally their corporate tax structure ( or significant lack thereof) is also favorable to business.

Mark,
By a purer form of Capitalism, I mean China lacks most US type regulations on business. That allows the entrepreneurial, job creating, wealth creating spirit of it's people to flourish. Some regulation is desirable. Here, we drive whole industries overseas, and destroy export driven companies with our regulations, going back 40 years. China's move to Capitalism did in 15 years what their Great Leap Forward (and our lurch to Socialism) failed/will fail to do. Improve living standards.

Mark - not Adam Smith as there are significant reasons why his ethics and politics were incorrect and conservative not capitalist or as it was always known before, classical liberalism.

The Austrian school is the scientific layout of economics - which is as immutable as all laws of physical science - contained in the vo Mises and Rothbard treatises.

While the only philosophical defence of capitalism ever published is that by Ayn Rand - "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.

Souls being dead refers to commenst by Chinese intellectuals that have in the past used this term stress that creative minds cannot function in an environment of oppression as China is. It does not refer to a soul as religions believe exists.

Two Questions and one comment,......1. to David-Joe,..... your comment about Chinese souls being dead, Where did you hear this?

2. Mike T.,..... China as a purer form of capitalism? What do you mean?

Steve, (Aussie Man) Kicking back and having a drink sounds berry, berry, good to me,..lol

There is no capitalism in China - it has evolved into fascism - business is a mechanism and is utilized. Capitalism rests on the same metaphysics and epistimology as any science and is only possible where the right of the individual to their life is recognized. Chinese intellectuals describe that they are stymied because their souls are dead. Capitalism is only where justice resides and is the stated reason for war of militant Islam so there can be no detente - it really is a fight to the death.

Michael Moore makes millions speaking - impossible in a socialist country. I'd like to see him waive his fees. His is a classic practitioner of the big lie theory - wrap truths around a big lie and repeat it. His documentaries are anything but. Countries that lean socialist stagnate at best, starve at worst. Red China raised 100s of millions of citizens' living standards adopting a purer form of Capitalism than the US in 1 generation. Govt interference accounts for much of our current problems.

democracy to anarchy, monarchy to tranny, aristocracy to oligarchy....and all that dervies,....
all pernicious to the extent that they are so easily corrupted,,...
uniting them, creating a trilateral government,seems to be the way out apparently...or does it condemn us all to a vicious three headed dog, guarding the wealth of the wealthy, instead of its true masters?.

We could do that. Or we could relax, have a drink and muse about things we may never be able to control.

May I also suggest some people remind themselves of the works of Adam Smith and others,.....you can also check Wikipedia for him and under the title of Classical Economics

Yes, capitalism gives us choices. And as a people, we choose to be lazy. We're not taking back anything because we're not marching, we're not electing new officials and we're not demanding that corrupt individuals be jailed. If we were being invaded, we wouldn't be wasting time by talking about how the invaders were unethical, we'd (hopefully) be fighting them off. US capitalism is working well. The sad thing is it lacks the competition for resources that's necessary for its survival.

Capitalism gives us choices. But we have gone wrong with issues of transparency and over-leveraged borrowers. The cause is a political system which works only in crisis based on the limited choice of a two-party system. Ralph Nader had it right.

Collectivism in all its forms, such as socialism, facism or welfare statism, is evil. It requires force and rejects the individual.

Someone like Michael Moore is the worst kind of character posssible - dishonest and disingenuous.