Hey there all you sick twisted freaks! This is KnightRanger, Eternal seeker of truth, problematic student, pathetic diplomat, and wannabe Italian cook. Today's post is my "introductory" post, so let's not beat around the bush. Today, since it is my first, of course I have to something Epic and Crazy- Which, as you'll learn, isn't really out of character for this deranged, pseudo-psychotic blogger, who, yes, is now, after 18 years, just like the rest of you freaks out there who have too much time on your hands. (And you do. Why else are you reading this?) ;)
Today, I was handed 3 questions, and was so distressed at the un-creativity of the 50 other answers that students gave, (which were all the same), I was inspired. Read the article, if you dare.
1. What are some of the ways that the free-market system benefits and harms people?
2. What are some of the ways that a command economy benefits and harms people?
3. Would you rather live in a free-market economy or a command economy? Explain.
So... which is it to be?
KnightRanger
8/31/2011 12:27:08 PM
All right, I am going to say something incredibly dramatic, and crazy, which isn't really out of character.
1. The free market doesn't harm people. People harm people. All the free market does is give us the ability to choose for ourselves. We are free to make our own choices in life. If we attach ourselves to truth, to inspiration, to righteousness, and are always looking for ways in which to help ourselves and others, if we commit ourselves to goodness, then we will be successful. We might not make a whole lot of money, but that is ultimately up to us. To those money is important to, they have to be innovative. There is so much competition in a free market, we have more incentive to create and produce than anyone one else in the world. Do we always come up with ideas that work? No, of course not. Which then gives us opportunity to grow, to mature, improve... and to create something better. Or we can give up. Which doesn't usually improve our character, much less make us any money. We are free to pursue our life through our liberty, and by doing so, find happiness. It doesn't say we will find it, hence the words "Pursuit of happiness" in that famous Declaration, but we are certainly free to do so. A free market by itself doesn't harm people. We make our own decisions. We control our own destiny. People are happier when they live knowing that their life is a result of *their* decisions and choices, not an obscure government planner sitting in a office 2,000 miles away.
2. A command economy doesn't harm people either.
People harm people. A command economy completely works... in theory, and in theory only. Why? because what the command economy does not account for is the Human Factor. Human arrogance. Human pride. Human greed. And the worst of these, human selfishness. In a free market economy, these "factors" are what decide what direction a person's life will take. It is up to the individual whether they will let these dominate their life. We are human. We are tempted. We want. We desire. And most of all, we desire freedom. We *want* equality. But if that absolute equality comes at the price of sacrificing control over our destiny, do we really value it that much? And, we ask, if everyone gets the same things regardless of the amount of work that they do, is it really equality? Should someone who works 80 hours a week be paid the same amount as someone who only works 25 hours a week? Common sense says no. you work more, you get more. Your reward is the result of your effort.
Do not misunderstand me. A command economy would be idyllic if the leaders and planners, were more than human, tempted not by power, not motivated by desire and greed, but by concern for the good of the people. The problem is, absolute power gives way to absolute corruption. Eventually. Unless you're God. Or something close. If one is not guided by good principles, they will be motivated by selfishness, and then of course, the command economy gives way to socialism and communism- two types of government that work only in theory. Then you have 1984 all over again. I could also cite how a command economy uses an incredible amount of resources, and how people aren't as happy when there is "equality" for all, because there is not incentive for growth!! By growing in economic ways and being innovative and creative in the business field in order to improve your material happiness, you are also growing as a person! This also encourages spiritual growth because your works are the result of who you are. In a command economy... it's all gone. That need for growth doesn't exist. It defies the very nature of us as a human. We were created to grow.
3.
Which do you think I would live in? It's not a sarcastic question, honest. I'd really like to know what you think.
So to throw you a loop I will quote one of my favorite presidents, Ronald Reagan:
"Socialism only works in two places; Heaven where they don't need it and Hell where they already have it."
Which brings us to two other questions which I would very much like to know the answer to. You probably do to, for that matter.
Is it better to be feared, or loved?
Is God a capitalist, or a socialist?
But that's the next discussion board.
~hannah :D
Do you see?
KnightRanger
8/31/2011 12:50:29 PM
As I read all of your posts, instead of responding to each of you, (Which I would dearly love to do!) I found I did not need to... you have answered the question I pointed out in my post- The Human Question.
Most of you chose a free-market economy. Why?
I noticed that in most of your posts, for question 3, in almost all of your answers there was this phrase, worded in various ways.
"I think I would like the ability to choose."
We all would.
We are Human.
We desire that ability more than anything else. And it's not just an ability. It is a Right. You were born knowing it is a right. God gave us the ability to choose. It is up to us. We are free to make our own decisions. If we devote ourselves to doing what is right, we will be rewarded with happiness at some point. If we give in to our human desires and temptation, we will be rewarded with pain, despair, and humiliation. We don't want those things to be decided for us. Innately, we all know that our fates are decided by our actions. We all want happiness.
So we all desire the ability to choose. We demand the RIGHT to choose. Government shouldn't be able to take that right away from us. And they can't. Not really even in a command economy. We all want the right to choose every aspect of our lives, but we still have the right to choose how we live our life given our circumstances- even if those circumstances are less than favorable. And that is something no government cold ever truly take away. They can take away our home, our possessions, our right to choose what we have, even our lives, but they cannot take away our heart, nor can they take away our ability to choose how we will react.
That is your Right.
That is your Glory.
I am so happy to see that you are all human. :)
~KnightRanger :)
Wow, that's deep... I haven't thought much about it.
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