philosophy of the modern conservative. "Government doesn't create wealth"

[kodi]

"Government doesn't create wealth," Mr. Bush said. "The role of government is to create the kind of conditions where risk-takers and entrepreneurs can invest and grow and hire new workers."

“WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 — Visiting the only Northeastern state he carried in 2000, President Bush campaigned today in New Hampshire, calling for lower federal taxes and continued vigilance against terrorism.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/09/politics/campaigns/09CND-BUSH.html?hp


That statement by Bush is in a nutshell the philosophy of the modern conservative.

It is devoid of any sense of organized social purpose besides wealth creation, is a-moral, a-ethical, and is a philosophy on the function of government that is fundamentally superficial and inefficient in a high tech society. Its time has passed, if such a time doubtfully ever existed.

Yet, it is enlightening towards understanding them and combating their philosophy and rhetoric.........

"The normal and proper aim of the corporate community is to make money for its managers and for the owners of business all the better if its members also contribute to the general prosperity. However, business acts on the prevailing business philosophy, which claims that corporate self-interest eventually produces the general interest. This comfortable belief rests on misinterpretation of the theory of market rationality proposed by Adam Smith.

"He would have found the market primitivism of the current day unrecognizable. He saw the necessity for public intervention to create or sustain the public interest, and took for granted the existence of a government responsible to the community as a whole, providing the structure within which the economy functions.

"Classical political thought says that the purpose of government is to do justice for its citizens. Part of this obligation is to foster conditions in which wealth is produced. The obligation is not met by substituting the wealth-producer for the government.

"Business looks after the interests of businessmen and corporation stockholders. Stark and selfish self-interest obviously is not what motivates most American businessmen and -women, but it is the doctrine of the contemporary corporation and of the modern American business school."

"It does not automatically serve the general interest, as any 18th century rationalist would acknowledge - or any 21st century realist."

William Pfaff

http://www.commondreams.org/views01/0126-01.htm

pass it on.

[realFedUp]

1. I don't want to be governed by GE

They don't bring good things to life.

[leftyandproud]

3. GE has 300,000 employees paid WELL above minimum wage..

hurt the guys at the top...guess who gets shafted in the end?

[qb]

2. Of course not. Neocon government destroys wealth and loots the treasury.

[tom_paine]

4. The Bushevik motto: Fraud and theft create wealth

FOR THEM!

[maha]

5. Why conservatives are idiots.

1. All those wealth-creating corporations require the structures of government -- laws and law enforcement, infrastructure and utilities, etc. -- in order to function. If government cannot provide the services the corporations need, eventually the corporations will have move on to another government.

2. When governments are paying off big debts and interest on debt, this takes money out of circulation that might have been available for business investment.

3. When school systems deteriorate, it gets harder for businesses to find educated workers to hire.

These people can't see the big picture. That's what makes them conservatives.

[rucky]

6. 87 Billion More Reasons (n/t)

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Well, it's doing wonders for Cheney and Halliburton.

*

[burr]

8. Government prevents others creating wealth in the modern economy...

and of course Shrub, the Repukes, and even most DINOs use this opportunity to destroy competitive forces in our market. Kerry even proposes "closing loopholes on patents", this would help the drug monopolies...not those seeking to buy generics. The loopholes in patent law, which do exist are what make generic drugs available to us...often at half the price of mainbrand drugs. Now the EU, the WTO, and other international organizations are being used to penalize nations that do not impose their 50 or 100 year monopolistic patents on the market. And if you want to invent something, you better pay the huge amount necessary to get your patent..even if it isn't anything substantial. If you don't, do business in a third world country ya sorry cheapscape!

Of course government should be on the side of competition, supply and demand, and helping to provide a healthy and well-educated middleclass workforce. But with outsourcing, government roadblocks to the little guy, and nobid contracts..why bother?
:shrug:

[KG]

9. Government doesn't create wealth? defence contractors might disagree

also road contractors, the extraction industry, etc.