In love. Of humankind.

I don't mean to bad-mouth capitalism totally. I'll concede there can be good capitalism. More likely, it's gonna be bad capitalism. Exploitative. Especially if it goes unregulated. Yes, government has to step in. To regulate capitalism. Free enterprise capitalists can't be trusted to regulate themselves. Too many of 'em are downright greedy. They want to reap unlimited amounts of capital. Money. Money. Money. They live and die for money. For exorbitant profits. Obscene profits. And if that means screwing the rest of us, they'll do it. Some of 'em without the slightest pang of conscience. The capitalist tends to lose sight of the common good. Rather, their credo is to benefit the individual. Themselves. Rather than society as a whole. Survival of the fittest. And to hell with everybody else. They think it's all right for the rich to keep getting richer and for the poor to keep getting poorer. They see the poor as saps. People who don't know any better. And therefore deserve to be poor. Because, in theory at least, they have the opportunity in a capitalist society to get as rich as the next guy. A capitalist is generally opposed to socialism. Because that hampers a capitalist's quest for unlimited riches. The socialist wants more spreading of the wealth. Taking from the haves and giving some of it to the have-nots. A closing of the gap between the rich and the poor. And the socialist wants to provide everyone with the basic necessities of life. Through public programs. In education. In health services. In police and fire protection. In transit. Yes, for the sake of a cohesive society. For the common good. The very principle that so many of our religious philosophers and leaders espoused. One of 'em even proclaimed that it's virtually impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom. Paradise. Heaven. Nirvana. He can't buy his way in. Instead, it's a spiritual endeavor. One must surrender monetary riches. And find reward in the spirit. In love. Of humankind. --Jim Broede