Moore is less

Two articles that popped up today present a very instructive contrast. First, rabble rouser Michael Moore says, “Capitalism is evil.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5850PQ20090906

Second, investment banks are contemplating turning life insurance policies into marketable bonds, the way they did mortgages, so I can see why Moore feels the way he does.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/business/06insurance.html

But I disagree completely, entirely and totally with Michael Moore. For one thing, no “system” is evil. The correct statement would be, “Capitalists are evil.” The question is, can evil people take better advantage of Capitalism than other systems of economics? No, absolutely not. Not only that, the other systems don’t provide the opportunities for regular people that Capitalism does. Capitalism is by far the best way to lift people up. Michael Moore, the son of an auto worker, is one example of that.

Socialism is a utopian concept that can never exist in reality as envisioned, as is the wacked-out fantasy world of Ayn Rand. Corruption and inequality exist in every economy, and Moore’s wrong about regulation — it CAN work. Much of what went wrong in the past few years can be blamed squarely on the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. If it were reinstated, investment banks wouldn’t be salivating over life insurance policies.

I agreed with Moore when he knocked GM twenty years ago, and I actually admired him for slamming the Bush administration on Iraq. His gun movie was less compelling, and I haven’t seen “Sicko,” but to denounce Capitalism outright is wrong, and considering the money he’s made, it’s a hypocritical position for Moore to take.