Capitalism and the Government

Capitalism is here to stay. The new world has won. The whole world is moving towards the same model. The 3rd world realizes that the transition is necessary for survival. But is capitalism actually a perfect solution?

Capitalism is based on selfishness. It's closest to human nature. Capitalism aligns perfectly with the law: Survival of the fittest. So the strong, intelligent, beautiful, wealthy will do well. For the rest, there is social security.

The problem arises when greed runs unchecked. If a person is in a position to procure the resources he needs to survive, does he cease procurement when he accumulates enough to satisfy his own needs and those for whom he is responsible for? No. He continues his acquisition of resources until he is unable to. So the check isn't contentment, it's the inability to further acquire, it's the presence of "fitter" forces in the market, it's losing to competition.

Capitalism celebrates the young, smart, successful, rich and beautiful. They have the highest market worth. They are among the fittest in the society. The world is their playgroud. The market adjusts to best serve their fancies.

What about the dumb, handicapped, ugly, sick, and elderly? That's why IRA (retirement accounts), health and disability insurance, plastic surgery, fitness centers, and viagra are becoming increasing popular. No one wants to be thrown into the "unfit" lot. These are ways so people who have worked hard to marginally keep in the "fit" section of the society, may remain so till they die. Hence, the old, infirm and critically ill, who are no longer useful to the society, are thrown into oldage homes and hospitals, waiting for their death.

Capitalist government celebrates good citizenship just like the market does high worth. A good citizen is one who never treads the wrong side of the law, pays a lot of taxes, consumes heavily, produces employment, pushes the economy, and reproduces good citizens. The government driven education system and media programs him to serve the interests of the government and the market while he lives. So a dying man is happy with the idea that he has been a good citizen throughout his life. But he was never encouraged to ask the important questions about life and death, to seek the truth, to pursue spirituality or to understand religion. Given the cycle of birth and death, my true well being is in understanding how karma functions, investing towards future lives more conducive to spiritual realization, and endeavoring to some day break the cycle.

If I am of ambitious and aggressiveness nature, it will probably place me in good stand in the capitalist world. But I need to look out for my own interests. That doesn't mean investing for retirement or purchasing the necessary insurances, it means making the best of this short life, making sure I progress spiritually. I'd hate to die ignorant, who knows next time I might not even be as "fit" a player in the society as I am this time.