Capitalism in America

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Capitalism in America

The United States has invaded, embargoed and bombed sovereign nations at the cost of several million people, all under the guise of capitalism and free trade. Whether it was the overthrow of the democratically-elected government in Guatemala or the carpet bombing of North Vietnam, the defeat of communism was always the justification. Despite the best efforts of capitalist propaganda (known as the Red Scare) throughout the beginning of the Twentieth-century, how do Americans really feel about free enterprise?

Since the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the defeat of communism, foremost economists and financial specialists from the United States have been advising the leaders of Eastern Europe on the foundations and benefits of a free-enterprise system. The federal government-financed National Endowment for Democracy has spent a great deal of time and money advising the same policies in various parts of the world everyday.

The U.S.-controlled World Bank and International Monetary Fund refuse to grant their fiscal blessings on any country not aggressively pursuing a market system. The United States absolutely will not lift its embargo from Cuba unless Castro ditches his socialist “experiment” and hops on the capitalist bandwagon. Before Washington would sanction and make possible his return to Haiti in 1994, Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide had to guarantee the White House he would ignore his socialist inclinations and embrace capitalism.

Taking the facts into account, it would come as a great shock to the rest of the world that in actuality most Americans do not believe in capitalism. Indeed, it would probably come as a shock to most Americans as well. Consider a hypothetical TIME mag...

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...suit of net capital gain.

America lacks an appreciation for its supposedly cherished ideal of greater “choice.” People moan and groan about junk mail filling their mailboxes and e-mail, having their senses pursued and surrounded by omnipresent advertisements and commercials. People squawk about the arrival in their neighborhood of the bully national chain that suffocates and drives out their favorite friendly bookstore, pharmacy or coffee shop, complaining about how “unfair” it is that this “predator” has marched in and crushed the neighborhood little guy. But is this not a textbook example of how free, unfettered competition should operate?

Pervading all these attitudes and frequently voiced is a strong disapproval of greed and selfishness in glaring contradiction to the reality that greed and selfishness form the official and ideological basis of our system.

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