19 Jul 2023 3:24 am
Mammonite Pillar #2: Free Market Theology
"[Almost] all conservatives are retarded, but some conservatives are more retarded than others." ~ George Orwell, Animal Farm
Tucker Carlson is one of the few non-retarded conservatives. Long ago he abandoned "economic libertarianism" as he understood that the American people overwhelmingly despised the idea of letting Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and other juggernauts run amok. (Some of his slow colleagues like Glenn Beck didn't really get the message and paid the price)
Instead of fighting for the "right" of Dow Chemical to dump its toxic waste into our beautiful streams and rivers (which only a liberTARDian would be retarded enough to do), Mr. Carlson decided it would be a much better turn for his career to fight the "culture wars." And he succeeded.
Mr. Carlson, however, is in the minority. The majority of conservatives today are still infatuated with "free market theology." The true reason behind their love affair is not their ideological allegiance (once again, only libertarians are retarded enough to be "True believers" in free market theology) - rather, it's their love of Mammon.
Conservatives just happen to believe that "free market economics" will maximize the numbers posted in their bank accounts, 401Ks, and brokerages. If only they could get another Reagan or Bush to cut their taxes!
(By the way, that's not true - imagine how much the stock market would implode if the federal government rescinded all of its contracts for SP 500 corporations)
Let me exemplify if you don't understand.
It basically goes something like this: talk with a conservative about any economics subject - the minimum wage, taxes, regulations, free trade, unions, etc. - and conservatives will quote Milton Friedman. Or, God forbid, Thomas Sowell. Whether they understand the "theory" or actual academics behind their position (e.g. minimum wage bad) is irrelevant. They have a one trick pony to shove in your face.
Free market = good. "Socialism" (which, in the conservative lexicon, means anytime the government "does something") = bad.
When you prod them a bit further, by introducing proven facts and theories found in Econ 101 and beyond (that run contrary to free market theology e.g. why employment remains stable or increases after minimum wage goes up), conservatives begin to flounder. They have no idea what to say or they bring up a bunch of fallacies.
My favorite is when they show their true colors immediately - "I don't like paying taxes to this stupid/corrupt/inept government."
"I shouldn't have to pay a burger flipper $15/hr."
This is when you know that they don't actually care about the academic arguments, the empirical data, or theory - they just cared about "the money."
Or, as I've said all along, Mammon.
(This is not the case with libertarians, who will cite the Austrian school, which is one level deeper but still not very sophisticated. Libertarians are usually just naive/disinformed nerds)
"[Almost] all conservatives are retarded, but some conservatives are more retarded than others." ~ George Orwell, Animal Farm
Tucker Carlson is one of the few non-retarded conservatives. Long ago he abandoned "economic libertarianism" as he understood that the American people overwhelmingly despised the idea of letting Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and other juggernauts run amok. (Some of his slow colleagues like Glenn Beck didn't really get the message and paid the price)
Instead of fighting for the "right" of Dow Chemical to dump its toxic waste into our beautiful streams and rivers (which only a liberTARDian would be retarded enough to do), Mr. Carlson decided it would be a much better turn for his career to fight the "culture wars." And he succeeded.
Mr. Carlson, however, is in the minority. The majority of conservatives today are still infatuated with "free market theology." The true reason behind their love affair is not their ideological allegiance (once again, only libertarians are retarded enough to be "True believers" in free market theology) - rather, it's their love of Mammon.
Conservatives just happen to believe that "free market economics" will maximize the numbers posted in their bank accounts, 401Ks, and brokerages. If only they could get another Reagan or Bush to cut their taxes!
(By the way, that's not true - imagine how much the stock market would implode if the federal government rescinded all of its contracts for SP 500 corporations)
Let me exemplify if you don't understand.
It basically goes something like this: talk with a conservative about any economics subject - the minimum wage, taxes, regulations, free trade, unions, etc. - and conservatives will quote Milton Friedman. Or, God forbid, Thomas Sowell. Whether they understand the "theory" or actual academics behind their position (e.g. minimum wage bad) is irrelevant. They have a one trick pony to shove in your face.
Free market = good. "Socialism" (which, in the conservative lexicon, means anytime the government "does something") = bad.
When you prod them a bit further, by introducing proven facts and theories found in Econ 101 and beyond (that run contrary to free market theology e.g. why employment remains stable or increases after minimum wage goes up), conservatives begin to flounder. They have no idea what to say or they bring up a bunch of fallacies.
My favorite is when they show their true colors immediately - "I don't like paying taxes to this stupid/corrupt/inept government."
"I shouldn't have to pay a burger flipper $15/hr."
This is when you know that they don't actually care about the academic arguments, the empirical data, or theory - they just cared about "the money."
Or, as I've said all along, Mammon.
(This is not the case with libertarians, who will cite the Austrian school, which is one level deeper but still not very sophisticated. Libertarians are usually just naive/disinformed nerds)