Canada’s McGill University hosts an annual hockey game played between the professors of its humanities department and those from the business school. They call it “capitalist pigs vs. communist bastards.” For years it’s been a big hit and no matter who wins, the pigs buy lunch.
Afterwards, they host a Symposium-style discussion on the merits of the two systems. Modeled after Plato’s great play, guests come together to discuss a serious topic—but it’s a party. Everyone eats, drinks, and gets merry, then afterwards, rather than putting on disco, they offer up arguments on a given issue. (In Plato’s version the subject is love, and Socrates wipes the floor as the last speaker.)
Every year the battle begins the same. “Capitalism sucks, too much goes to the top.” “Oh ya, if it wasn’t for us you’d all be starving.” Then as the night goes on (and booze starts to flow) they get down to the truth.
Communism
Communism was developed by Laura Engels and Groucho Marx, back in the 1860s. Conceived during a time when insufficient production kept many people poor, it sounded like a great idea to some. Not knowing that technology—namely electricity and the motor—would eventually come along to fix things, it claimed society would be better served if we all shared. Kind of like living on a kibbutz. But in political practice, it was used by cutthroats to obtain power.
Certain leaders conned the public into believing they’d raid the rich to feed the poor, only to get rich themselves. As a result, sympathizers don’t look to the past for vindication. They believe this theory was never properly put into practice and now deserves a second chance. Let’s take a look.
Communism calls for full-on socialism while eliminating all private property. Every business is owned and operated by the government through central control and you’re not allowed to buy a home—you can only rent. Then when it comes to working and taking, the philosophy is “from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” The social history of communism is easy to dismiss. Its dictators killed millions (mostly those who refused to comply). But the economic history is quite clear. This ideology didn’t get people up in the morning. Why? Because it conflicted with human nature. Sure most of us are designed to be nice, but not that nice. At least, not to the degree that communism requires.
Any successful system involves having your best people do the hardest jobs. And if that means buying them a new Ferrari every couple of years, so be it. Providing the gifted with some sort of incentive isn’t harmful to society. It belongs within the common good. For when the gifted put forth their best efforts, it grows the pie for everyone. We really don’t want talented software engineers sitting at home writing a novel.
“Okay, okay.” Socialists say, “We’ll give you back your private property.” Sorry, not enough. Hard workers aren’t going to dance for just a house. And every economy needs all horses to run. Workers aren’t going to accept overtime or dangerous / uncomfortable conditions for the sake of some newfound church. We want compensation. That’s why every version of this utopian dream dies on the streets. It’s not natural. People like money and everything that it buys. So much so they’re willing to work for it.
And just when it looks like capitalism is gaining the edge, some commie pulls out a joint.
Ethics
“Ya, but a lot of you capitalists are dicks.” And that’s the problem with truth. It cuts deep.
The stereotypes of Mister Burns and Ebenezer Scrooge are long out-of-date. Rich people don’t act like that anymore. Most of them are nice. Andrew Carnegie said, “A man should spend the first half of his life making money and the second half giving it away.” Bill Gates isn’t the first. But even with modern day heroes, far too many of the powerful are knobs. And that’s the problem with business.
Capitalism requires ethics and they don’t teach you that in business school. Even worse, you can’t regulate it. There is no lever to prevent corporate raiders from ripping apart towns or gaming the system (e.g., say in finance). And, other than competition, there’s nothing to stop companies from overcharging customers or underpaying staff. Same goes for paying your bills on time. Our system relies upon ethics. The kind your mother taught you. And not all participants comply.
It’s not about building hospitals or funding a shelter, it’s about running a respectable shop. State regulators can’t be everywhere and it’s impossible to plug all the holes. So the economy requires morals. And not just from the top, it’s everyone’s business. People are what keep this system going and when you take riches without responsibility, you’re not up to the job.
Summary
It’s no secret that not everyone is born the same. Some have the “do good in school” gene, while others just don’t. Some have loads of energy to climb a mountain, others don’t. And a bunch of us were dealt a crappy hand. That being said, it’s not the job of industry to solve any of these problems. But when you get into the billions and hundreds of millions, you’ve been more than compensated.
Everyday people don’t like to see opulence when they’re being left out. They too like toys. So this trend against capitalism isn’t coming by way of another system. It’s coming from within. Many who thrive under this current order aren’t worthy of its rewards, and it’s getting noticed.
As for McGill, their tournament has been going on for years and series-to-date, capitalists are winning. But the last couple games have gone to the commies, which might tell you something. Professionals continue to argue and implement change, but a lot of people still seem to be miffed. It sure would be a shame to go against human nature. Then again, isn’t it natural to complain?