I think it’s time I made clear something I’ve honestly believed for a long time.
I think capitalism is a really good system. I think “freedom” is the only moral political system. I think the Austrian Economists at www.Mises.org are right.
But I think capitalism and corporatism are different.
As one of my favorite intellectuals I’ve never met (Peter Klein) would probably agree, it’s all about entrepreneurship.
I think the anti-capitalism interpretations of Naomi Klein’s work, and the anti-capitalist interpretations of the whole “occupy Wall Street” movement, are flawed.
And finally – and this is the point of this post – I believe that all corporations exist for only four reasons:
1. To provide a mechanism for fascinating and productive individuals who are too scared to start their own business to be “successful”
2. To provide a mechanism for economically, socially, or future-trendy savvy people to be successful through investment and non-participatory involvement
3. To allow people like me, who are fascinated by the way organisations work, to make them better. Just for our own personal satisfaction.
4. To either make individuals happier by the products and services they provide – or to fail
This is what I believe. It’s also why I think Alan Joyce is cool.