While I was waking up this morning, I was thinking about capitalism being the kids and I had finished reading Money, Greed, and God by Jay Richards, and it occurred to me that I finally understand something: how capitalism helped form a middle class, which is a great thing. Capitalism created a way for poor people to make a better living for themselves, and by doing so, those people could then help other people to do the same.
What I mean is, before America, you were either poor or rich. There were the nobility and the peasants. There was not much the poor peasants could do to change their condition, as they were stuck where they were born.
Furthermore, those over the peasants were not much better off either. There may be different variations of poverty, some better than others, but mainly, they were stagnant. The nobility and the Church were it, but there wasn’t too much opportunity for one to escape poverty. Maybe working under the King was better than being a peasant, but you weren’t wealthy on your own, for certain. You may work a trade, which was fine, but it was still below well off, and you were still stuck. You may work a craft for the nobility or the Church, but that was temporary. Many ended up in slavery or servitude just to be able to eat day to day because that was all that was available. There were zero opportunities to make your own way.
Enter America (though the seeds were planted in England!!!!) and the movement toward liberty and self-government, which provided the necessary free market, which permitted the wonderful political and economic system that enabled poor people to make a living for themselves. In doing so, they created jobs and needed to hire free people to do the work. Free people entered into free contracts with employers, and if the employer did not pay well or treat them fairly, they were free to go off and work somewhere else, or develop their own ideas and make something better, essentially going into business for themselves.
In realizing this, I have a better appreciation for capitalism and the free market. Society is usually split between the powerful and the subservient, or rich and poor. But a free society opens up the inevitable, producing a wide range of wealth, and those who take advantage of it have opportunity to be very wealthy, if they like or are able.
Some are content to live with just enough, and that is ok, too. Unfortunately, we will always have poverty, which is also varied because everyone has his own reason for being stuck in poverty. But in a free society with a free market, there aren’t too many good excuses that you can blame on someone or something else. Much of it is self-induced, though there are ways out.
I was thinking of reasons why we still have poverty, and I came up with a few:
- poor choices early on, like getting pregnant and choosing government assistance as a way of life. There is no end to that anymore.
- Choosing a life of crime.
- Getting ensnared in drugs and alcohol.
- Health or medical issues or disabilities, or mental health problems, though sometimes this is out of one’s control.
- Family and other personal issues, which also can fall into mental health complications.
- Dropping out of education, limiting yourself to low-skilled work.
- Making poor economic decisions, living outside of one’s means, and living in debt!!!
- Lack of desire to work or take care of yourself or your responsibilities - laziness and no initiative.
- Sometimes you live where there is no industry or opportunity, but in America, you are free to move about the country. It’s not easy, but people can do it if they are determined.
- And I’m sure there are more reasons because we live in a free society, so everyone’s situation is different.
Poverty can be temporary. People move in and out of different economic levels. The goal is to move up, but naturally, life happens. The problem is mental and a heart issue since we tend to be prideful and spoiled and expect to start at the top and live large instantly, which is a lack of understanding of our economic system. Starting at the bottom is good, building on experience, which is also important, as well as delaying gratification and not making debt a lifestyle. But young people are not taught this, not at home or at school.
Capitalism is beneficial to society and individuals because it enhances people's lives and makes life worth living - that is, being free to create and invent and work and make a living. Working encourages ideas and growth potential, and working is very good and healthy and makes people content and productive. I can go on and on.
But I will end with saying that Money, Greed, and God is an excellent and simple explanation and demonstration of how and why capitalism in a free market is the best economic and political system in the world, which enables the private sector to own and create wealth for itself. Though dated (pub. 2009), nothing has changed!
The message in this book is for Christians to see how God has His hand in this economic system, and that they should naturally reject the world's ignorant view that capitalism causes greed, encourages theft, and that Christians can't be capitalists. These are heart issues that are present regardless of the economic system in place. Unfortunately, many Christians have adopted this worldview and falsely believe the world can offer a better way to make money and impact poverty.
Hopefully, Mr. Richards can change some minds...and hearts!!!
Funny story...but not really:
I read this whole book to my 13-, 14-, and 16-year olds over the course of two months. At the very end of the conclusion, the author re-asked the question he presented at the beginning of the book: "Can Christians be capitalists?" After weeks and weeks of going through the well-laid out arguments, I presented the question again to my kids. And how did they reply? In unison, and resoundingly, "NO!"
Face smack!
My 13-year old said, "OOOhhh, I thought you said...'Communist'!" And to be fair, we are studying a lot of Communism right now. I can see how she can have brain switched the two (eye roll). But seriously. A teacher knows when her students are NOT actively listening.
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