Nations are composed of many elements. They are created out of their own education systems, their military, religions, art, sports, architecture, economy, transportation systems, sciences, literature, natural resources, government, and perhaps many others. Most nations blend these elements into an interrelated pattern of contrasts and beauty with each supporting, enhancing and helping to define the others. One component may lead for a while, with others providing strong support, then another may come forward with the support and help of its people.
However, one of the determinant characteristics of capitalism is that ALL of the components of that nation must become secondary to its one lead item: The Economy. In the words of James Carville, “It’s the economy, Stupid!” ALL other components of a capitalistic nation have to give way to the Economy.
Furthermore, the value of all other factors are judged only in economic terms. The value of the nation’s education system is determined by how well it prepares its students to get a job and make money, the value of a work of art is determined by how much money it is worth, the value of a sports team by how much money it made and the players by how much money they are paid, scientific explorations are judged by how much money they could make. In every case the value of any endeavor is rated by how much money it might return.
In a capitalistic nation the money always rises to the top. The purpose of capitalism is the accumulation of capital. The wealth of an organization or a city or a state or a nation, if it is capitalistic, will always continue to be gathered together into fewer and fewer hands. The workers will still be paid, but their pay will be determined by their employers. They will have less and less input in that matter and begin to assume more and more the status of servants.
How then can we use capitalism? First, it has many points of value. Capitalism is necessary to fund large operations, like maintaining ports, building airliners, automobiles and many other important aspects of modern society. But it must be contained by at least two other forces.
One, there must be room for a vibrant, strong and powerful free enterprise system. This provides an outlet for people who may be dissatisfied with the corporate culture, or who have a brilliant idea, or just want to prepare and sell products or services they can produce themselves.
Second, government must control capitalism – not by controlling the corporations, or the industries, or the workers, but by controlling the market. Government must protect the operation of free enterprise people, the real entrepreneurs, and keep the corporations from constantly devouring each other in a "Cannibalistic Market".
This won’t be easy, it won’t ever be “finished” or “completed”. This will always be a continuing procedure requiring constant input and endless communication between the factors involved. New technologies and new problems will constantly appear and need to be integrated and built upon. But this is the only way to develop a vibrant and growing economy into the future.
