Constitutional Capitalism?

Question

why shouldn't all the laws, regulations, entitlement and social programs, that restrict the economy, be scraped in favor of the American economy only being checked by what the Constitution says about the economy(Art 1 Sec8 clausues) (art1 sec 9 clauses)(art1 sec 10 clauses) and those results balnced in a way that does not negitivly impact our sovereignty and Independence?

Answer 1

Good question.

Personally, I think entitlement programs bog down the country, and free markets are usually more sustainable for a country (if it is run efficiently).

However, people got used to the entitlement mentality - which is a socialist/communist mentality - since the great depression from 1929 into the late 30's. Since then, people got used to the government's hand-outs and their dependency on the social programs grew. Now, people take it for granted that they are entitled to government's hand-outs and that the government should take care of them. Unless we can break this bad habit, we will continue to be dependent on government hand-outs, and continue to have the entitlement mentaility. It is like a drug-abuse victim - it's hard to wean them out of this dependency on drugs.

It's going to take a BIG wake-up call for most of us, or to put it bluntly, we need to be 'snapped out of it'.

Answer 2

Unfortunately the real answer is money. Special interest groups and other entities all have a hand in the till, and the other hand in the politicians pocket. Politicians want to be voted in so they have access to your money, and the special interest groups want that money. So its ends up being a give of take affair based on greed. In recent decades, things have gone from bad to worse as these special interests groups have learned how to infiltrate and corrupt the legal system, and at the same time convince the American people that what they value is bad and what they want is what they have to offer. Unfortunately, what they have to offer is crime, immorality, social sickness, and corruption. Its gotten to a point where we cannot even uphold our basic laws for fear of being labeled something. They have successfully made things progressively more like the Government controls everything, and you get what they dictate, all else is not allowed. If you study your history, this is Socialism. We are on a dangerous path in the USA unless we wake up and start standing up for traditional values less government, and common sense.

Answer 3

Constitutional capitalism the way you describe it is an oxymoron. This is not to say that it is not a terrific idea. Just imagine, American capitalists, entrepreneurs and businesses having a free rein as long as it benefits America and Americans. The idea smacks of nationalism, but I happen to think that it is critical we think this way.

If we do not care about the economic health of America and Americans, what are the chances that China, India, Russia, Mexico and the rest of the world will think of America as they pursue their economic objectives. Charity begins at home. If we can not understand this basic precept, then we deserve whatever we get!

Answer 4

What you are referring to is called Laissez-faire capitalism. We found out in the early 20th century (1900s) that this system of "let-it-be" capitalism in the industrial age leads to massive wealth inequalities, no protection for consumers and workers, structural problems in the economy that led to the Great Depression, massive speculation, impoverished working class, and a squeezed middle class.

Since this was the case, we altered the laissez-faire idea somewhat to create a mixed economy.

Of course, the case could be made that in the technological age the lessons of industrial excesses are no longer valid. But that was not really the thrust of your question.