Opus 2023-279: A Lesson in Economics

Capitalism works for two reasons:  People are stupid and people can be smart.

This evolved from my wife complaining about all the “solutions” offered on the internet for her cat’s eating disorder.  The cat is not stupid.  He is a socialist.  If you offer him food, he will take it.  If you respond to his pitiful cries and give him more food, he will take it.  It works for him and you in the short run.  Sure, he dies of obesity but cats are cheap and readily available, just like peasants in Soviet Russia.  Socialism works for both of you.

I digress.

All of the offerings of wisdom, special foods, cat toys and exercise programs (for the cat, not you) get you to buy their products.  If you are the kind of person who runs on low octane fuel then you buy it and they get rich.  Put that under the “people are stupid” category.  It is like the people who watch the weather every night, see that the forecast does not work out and still believe it the next day.

Then you have the people who choose to be smart.  This is a harder road.  It requires thinking and using a bit of logic.  It makes you see uncomfortable truths and take actions that are draining.  You don’t buy your cat all the “miracle diets” made with sustainable cricket legs.  Instead you give him a measured cup of whatever was cheapest and throw him outside.  He will either eat what you give him or go hungry.  If he gets hungry enough he will either eat what you provide or go hunt a snake for lunch.  If he hunts it requires exercise.  It is a win/win.

Because most people are not smart the cat products earn a profit and pay taxes which gets the roads paved and puts books on the library shelve.  Meanwhile you live better with a healthy self-image based on wise decisions.  And they will wonder why you have money to go on vacation.

Capitalism works.  Of course that applies to actual capitalism not the fascist version of crony capitalism we have today.  

Trust me.

homo unius libri