We must cease its use at once and forevermore. "
Capitalism," the word, maligns capitalism, the economic system. We must understand and accept this. No longer can we conservatives, we capitalists, remain purists about this term. The Left has won, and handily. They have contorted the word
capitalism into a grotesque mockery of its true nature. Worse, having sullied the term, they have also sullied the concept.
If the economic system of capitalism were termed something different than
capitalism, millions of conservatives would be spared the necessity of incessantly arguing, "No, that's not what capitalism means at all. Capitalism is about freedom, creation, prosperity. No, it's not about selfishness, mean-spiritedness, or base motives. No, the profit motive is not about everyone only caring about themselves. No, no, no, no, no!"
The putrefaction of
capitalism, the word, prevents understanding and acceptance, excitement and enthusiasm, about capitalism the economic system. How else might one account for the fact that despite capitalism's unrivaled success in every case and in every age it remains so universally unloved?
Capitalism the system is far too precious to be maligned or misunderstood any longer.
Capitalism is dead.
Freedom Economics
If we fail to replace
capitalism with a term more descriptive of
real capitalism, or at least a term the low-information citizen might become fond of, we risk losing far more than an inimitable economic system. We risk calamity on a much larger scale. Failing to convincingly replace
capitalism with a better term, we risk losing freedom. In fact, the true nature of capitalism, the economic system,
is freedom. Any other economic system devolves to slavery.
One might argue since the term
capitalism is often used interchangeably with "free enterprise" and "free markets," these latter constructions might suffice when the term
capitalism is terminated. Unfortunately, the Left has already corrupted these descriptors as well, though admittedly not yet so thoroughly as
capitalism. These terms, "free enterprise" and "free markets," are instinctively alienating to the government-schooled citizenry, evoking thoughts of Wall Street tycoons, corporations, and Country Club Republicans, just as with
capitalism.
We must acknowledge these terms, "free enterprise" and "free markets," are beyond redemption, just as is
capitalism. And, we must admit any term we might choose that contains a root or key word relevant to business or economy is just as lost to us as is
capitalism.
We need something else some term proclaiming capitalism's true nature, and possessing an intrinsic universal appeal, something inextricably linked with foundational positive associations.
There is such a term:
Freedom Economics.
Freedom Economics, the term, is a parallelism invoking the storied "
Keynesian Economics" construction rather than the harsh and alien terms ending with "ism." In this alone it is preferable to
capitalism.
The "Economics" portion of "
Freedom Economics" also hints nicely at a scholarly affiliation.
The "Freedom" portion encompasses all similar terms, such as Liberty or Rights, and strikes the ear more fetchingly than "free," given the latter's connotation of cheapness. This contrasts with the "free" of "free markets" or "free economy," which suggests something other than the "free" of "freedom." The term "free economy," in any case, has never taken root in the American mind. It sounds sterile the term "free" appearing to modify "economy" - and in this having nothing to do with "freedom" at all.
Asserting
Freedom Economics as the more accurate term for capitalism, the system, is neither crafty nor presumptuous. Freedom cannot exist in the absence of capitalism and capitalism cannot exist in the absence of freedom. Capitalism is merely Freedom by a different name.
Freedom Economics captures both concepts.
Use of the
Freedom Economics term permits an even more delicious excursion. Its mere articulation virtually shouts the allegation all other economic systems are
not free and do
not boast a foundation in freedom without requiring the awkward fuss and bother and effusion of words otherwise required to explain capitalism has mostly nothing to do with capital at all.
Freedom Economics offers even greater reward. It contrasts wonderfully with its converse parallelism:
Government Economics. In this it creates a tidy category into which we can compact all of the silly and malicious economic systems in the world that are truly, merely, one thing:
Government Economics. The lofty Keynesian Economics Theory requires a ridiculous amount of Government intervention. Why then should it not be called "Government Economics" as well? The same is true for Socialism and Communism and every other ism.
This dualism between the terms and concepts of "Freedom Economics" vs. "Government Economics" - is perhaps the aspect which best recommends use of the
Freedom Economics term. The dualism provides formidable rhetorical advantage, contrasting
Freedom Economics vs. Government Economics as the equivalent of
Good vs. Bad.
With one blow we can call capitalism what, in the end, it really is, Freedom Economics, while deliciously declaiming everything else to be Government Economics, and by implication, not free.
No longer will the most successful and loving economic system in the world for everyone in society - be chained to a name the Left has contaminated so successfully for so many years. Who can argue against Freedom?
Let's dispose of the term capitalism-- and for all time -- at least in public. Instead, let us forevermore call capitalism by its true name: Freedom Economics.
And then, let us smash down the arrogant citadels of sophistry of the Left, and engage in the hand-to-hand rhetorical combat we now cannot fail to win.
