So, I have been prodded and poked out of silence. Here goes.
It appears impossible to escape economic discussion these days. I write this with a sigh, because I happen to find economics a dull topic. Sure, it’s important and worthy of discussion, yadda yadda yadda. I just dislike it. Kind of liking visiting the dentist and flying, economics is one of those things I talk about just because that’s what grownups do.
I don’t have anything profound to say, except that I remain suspicious of both “sides” of the discussion. They’re both so impersonal. And touchy.
Take the capitalists. If you suggest that a businessman is noble for giving something away that he could justly sell for profiit, this camp immediately assumes you’re a devoted follower of Marx and Lenin and all of those horrible people who think that collectivism actually works.
The other side isn’t guiltless either. If you dare talk about wealth as a blessing or the desire to live in a nice house, send your kids to college, or save up an inheritance for them, they immediately assume you’re a selfish middle class wannabe who lacks all compassion.
Yes, these are both slightly exaggerated generalizations, but I’ve met both responses in real life conversations. It’s not that both sides are evil; it’s actually quite the opposite. The people I’ve talked to are very sincere in their desire to make the world a better place. They just happen to emphasize certain things—things they feel have been lost or wrongly condemned—and that unfortunately blinds them from seeing the good and fair points from the other side.