Capitalism, Socialism, Distributism

Here's a good article on distributism (link below) and a challenge to the lazy thinking that knows only two models(capitalism or socialism). The modernist epidemic of black and white thinking can usually only come up with two opposing views, whatever the topic.

The trouble with those seeking to defend capitalism is that they end up defending trance consumerism - a greedy, godless, amoral system of materialism 100% at odds with Catholic/Christian teaching. The notion of capitalism tempered by moral restraint is untenable. How can market forces act morally? Their fueling passion is greed. The point is that they concern themselves with supply, demand and price and nothing else, existing in a moral vacuum.

The core of capitalism is not about what society, or families or individuals need, but what will reward stockholders' investments and enrich the CEO's coffers.

From InsideCatholic.com

QUOTE Congress has promised over $1 trillion from our hands to "rescue" gargantuan businesses. When corporations demand the largest free ride in our history, it's time to rethink economies of scale. Socialism is a silly solution -- there, everything becomes one gargantuan business. We need a real solution: distributism. UNQUOTE

Médaille On Buffett

The Distributist economic viewpoint as articulated by John Médaille and others is one which I am just learning about but have much sympathy for. Basically, it is an economic "third way" between communism and capitalism, wisely understanding the truth of the wag's statement "Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's the other way around."

In a nutshell, distributism envisions an economic order modeled on the guild-dominated economies of medieval Europe. Advocates take Catholic social teaching seriously; indeed, they frequently insist that CST virtually obligates Catholics to support a distributist program. There is much of value in the distributist vision, including criticism of consumerist culture and an emphasis on wide ownership of property and communal cooperation.
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QUOTE As a matter of full disclosure, I am a stockholder in Berkshire Hathaway. But this old distributist will listen to the old capitalist. Pearl Harbor was a rather severe wake-up call. This melt-down is another. How will we respond? Trouble in life is inevitable; the real test, for a person or a nation, is how we deal with it. UNQUOTE
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One by Chesterton

The Christ Child

by G.K. Chesterton

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap,

His hair was like a light.

(O weary, weary were the world,

But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast,

His hair was like a star.

(O stern and cunning are the kings,

But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s heart,

His hair was like a fire.

(O weary, weary is the world,

But here the world’s desire.)

The Christ-child stood at Mary’s knee,

His hair was like a crown.

And all the flowers looked up at Him,

And all the stars looked down.

Chesterton Lives!

Although he gained renown for his Father Brown stories, G.K. Chesterton is also considered to be the father of modern popular spiritual writing. Orthodoxy is his spiritual autobiography. Since it was first published in 1908, it has not lost power as a timeless argument for orthodox Christianity. Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English journalist, poet, biographer, historian, debater, radio personality, and novelist. One of the literary giants of the twentieth century, Chesterton constantly participated in public life, debating George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells, and a contemporary of Tolkien, Eliot, Waugh, Sayers, Campbell and Sassoon - and maintaining on-going humorous arguments with leading journalists and critics of his time. He is the author of more than 100 books on a wide variety of subjects; he is best known for his much-loved (Father Brown mysteries) series of detective stories and this apologetics classic.

The Christian beliefs of men such as C.S. Lewis, Chesterton and J.R.R. Tolkien informed their views about everything: politics, social ills, literature, and family life. Deconstruction attempts to separate the lives and beliefs of these authors from their work. Tolkien couldn’t have written The Lord of the Flies, nor could William Golding have written Lord of the Rings. The spiritual dimension is a key part of their work. Whether readers realize it or not, books such as Lord of the Rings influence their view of God, and Reality.

You can listen to Orthodoxy for free at LibriVox.

Ahh, to time-travel back to that old English pub and sip a Guinness with Lewis, Tolkien, Sayers and Chesterton. Or even be a fly on the wall...