a vote for capitalism
It is all relative. I’m wearing turtlenecks and looking for space heaters. Given that I’m in that phase of my life where I’m typically shedding clothing, this burst of winter is almost a welcome reprieve. Once upon a time, I lived up north on the plains of Minnesota where plugs hanging from the front of the car grills is the norm. I can even recall a time when I watched spilt soda freeze almost instantaneously on the front of my coat. Having left the northern climes for the temperate mid-south, my internal thermostat has now shifted and even my hormonally charged body cannot accommodate the cold. Not to worry, Gary says, it’ll be up in the 60’s by next week.
Given the temperature outside, it was easy to enjoy an NPR “driveway moment” this afternoon. David Cay Johnston, author of “Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill)”, was on Fresh Air today talking about TIF. TIF (tax increment financing) is money collected as taxes but given directly to the business collecting it to pay for capital expense.
TIF is the goldmine that enables large investors to buy up otherwise reasonably priced real estate, level the existing structures, and build new ones. In theory, TIF is to be used only in “blighted” areas, but it was TIF money that built the West County Mall in an area no one could truthfully call blighted. We should be familiar with TIF; TIF money built the new stadium in St. Louis and denying TIF money kept Mills from developing the Lockwood property to our northwest. TIF money is at the heart of the skirmish in Rock Hill between the alderman and Novus, with the latest proposed TIF winner being the developer that is building for Target. Although TIF certainly improves the curbside appeal of our neighborhoods, Johnston cautions that the real cost is obscenely high.
Johnston calmly but determinedly decried the loss of our free market economy with tools such as TIF. I was listening to Johnston wondering if he would identify as a liberal or conservative in today’s parlance. He is certainly no fan of the current administration, but hardly lobbying for liberal causes. The portion of the interview that I heard was a lament for the loss of market control of the economy. No longer is the debate between the socialists and the capitalists, I realized, but now between the capitalists and the scions of corporate welfare.
I’ve never considered myself much of a capitalist. My kids love to play Monopoly, but I loathe the game. I dread the inevitable monopolies that pile up on various sides of the board, my heart thumping as I toss the dice. When forced to play, my strategy is to buy one of each color and hang on as long as I can. Back in the days of the cold war I was called a “commie”, but now I don’t know. If my choices in this next election cycle are between corporate welfare and free markets, I might end up looking like a capitalist. Ron Paul is looking ever more appealing.
Finding myself championing the cause of the capitalist rhetoric, I wonder if I’ve betrayed my socialist roots. As I search for another fleece, I cannot help but note that - relatively speaking - Johnston’s lament for the market sounds downright revolutionary.
I also heard interview and it was not the first this idea has come up. Why does the “basic” concept of “capitalism”(buying and selling goods) and a basic idea of socialism(supporting everyone, especially the least) be mutually exlusive. It always amuses me when “Chritians” talk so bad about “socialism” when it is CLEAR in Acts 4 & 5 that that is the preferred system of the godhead (even being “enforced” if you will by the HS–they died when they lied). I’ve heard all “excuses” as to why this was not reeaaallyy the preferred system(even though its right there as basic as possible in Acts)…but it all comes short of the truth. If you look at the history of Empires and nations alike that have gone through revolutions, many if not most have one thing in common…the rich got richer at he expense of the poor and it was usually a slow and largely “hidden” process until the “poor majorty” got feed up. True in Venezuala, Nicaragua & El Salvador in the 80’s, Colonies of the British Empire, Czarist Russia, French revolution and even Rome to a large extent. these are just a FEW of the more notible revolutions. This is exactly the precusive situation the NPR program was describing as happening here, ow more tan ever. Unfortunately those of supposed faith have been too brainwashed to know socialism and capitalism can coexist..all be it whithin controls and not as we know it in this country know. Two hundred years of the countries “capitalist” growth is REALLY not a long time for a “nation” to have a history one can call a success. All the “advances” capitalism (or any ‘ism) is supposed to have inspired means nothing if it ultimately falls to its growing greed this story is pointing to!
January 4th, 2008 at 8:24 amI think you’re right. Concentrating the vast majority of wealth and political power in a tiny number of private hands isn’t what free enterprise and capitalism are all about.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:57 pm