Putting individuals first

One of the frequent complaints leftists often make about capitalism is that it tends to subordinate people to profits. In a capitalistic system, liberals complain, profits often come before people.

The Marxist, of course, is deeply disturbed by this “unjust” situation; he wants to put people before profits, because people are far more important than materialistic goods. It makes him feel good to show the world that he really cares about ordinary people. He doesn’t want them to be brutally exploited by the greedy rich, who will reportedly stop at nothing to make an extra buck.

Unfortunately, most people tend to go along with this wrong-headed characterization of capitalism and the successful businessman or corporation. They never question the leftist’s flawed assumption that people and money are inherently dichotomous.

In reality, money only helps people. Profits and productivity are good for the overall economy. In a free market economy, rising levels of wealth (investments) tends to raise a society’s standard of living. Profits create all sorts of opportunities, from high paying jobs to wealth in the stock market. Entrepreneurship flourishes. Technology advances.

Most–but not all–people benefit.

The liberal’s problem is that he wants the impossible and the unjust. He wants all people to benefit equally. But it is impossible for all people to benefit all of the time. Some people do not deserve to benefit. In a free and just society, merit must be properly rewarded.

Actually, given the current levels of prosperity in the United States, it is doubtful that most left-wing, anti-capitalist protesters even want poverty to permanently go away. A good case can probably be made for the poverty protection industry. That is to say, some liberals probably don’t want the compassion industry to go away.
It gives them a sense of righteousness and self-worth to know that they care about the plight of the poor, “oppressed,” and less fortunate.

Merely observe the travesty of the violent Seattle WTO protests. Look at the Washington, D.C. IMF/World Bank riots. These young, neo-hippie leftists are doing this in an unprecedented era of American economic growth and expansion–at a time when American incomes are rising, inflation remains tame, the stock market is booming, and unemployment is at a 30-year low.

Yet, despite the prosperity, leftist agitators still complain about “putting profits before people.” But by putting profits first, you put individuals first. Never mind about people (read, special interest groups). Governments should focus on protecting individual rights. And by putting money (profits, private property rights) first, you put individuals first. For the individual must always come before “people.” People (groups) don’t have rights; only individuals have rights–and foremost among these rights are private property rights.