Capitalism

No economic system is perfect. If you really want a great critique of capitalism, read Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s warnings about its vulgar materialism and soulless consumerism. For me, the biggest problem with capitalism is how successful it is in reducing poverty, raising the standard of living, creating wealth across the spectrum of society. Many of the problems, temptations, and trappings that use to only affect the “super wealthy” are now accessible to the “poor” and middle classes.

Nevertheless, capitalism has been the most successful economic system ever devised – by far! As a Christian, my main concern when it comes to economics is how it affects the poor and how it affects freedom. The overwhelming, self-evident conclusion is that free-market capitalism reduces poverty, creates jobs, increases wages, raises the standard of living, creates wealth across the board, funds charity, leads to innovation, reduces work hours, improves the environment, reduces inequality, increases cultural diversity, increases choices, promotes democracy, increases life expectancy, improves quality of life, eliminates many diseases, promotes family, decreases crime, increases mobility, and gives people the opportunity to pursue more meaningful work.

That people don’t see this constitutes a serious intellectual and moral blind spot.