Capital!

T.K. McNeil 

English is truly a fascinating language. Technically a combination of three different languages, Latin, German and French, modern English has a wider active vocabulary than an other living language on earth. Almost double that of French. Despite this, it can also be one of the worst languages in terms of creating misunderstandings. Such as Darwin's use of the word “fittest” to refer to general adaptability. Many, including several brutal dictators, assuming he meant survival of the strongest. Indirectly leading to the principle of Social Darwinism, which has lead to the misery and death of untold millions over the last century or so. There is also the unfortunate situation following the viral status of #MeToo, many men, somewhat hurt but the implication of making mass statements about “predatory men” pointing out “not all” of them do that. In fact it is not most. What was really going on was mostly a limitation of language. Most #MeToo activists not actually meaning to literally include the entire male population in statements about a select few powerful men who had been exposed as sex offenders. Just as those making the “not all” statement were in no way trying to imply that there really wasn't a problem, just that they were not a part of it. Or tried not to be. Definitions and nuances it is difficult to express in a concise manner.

Another term grossly misunderstood by modern English speakers is that of “Capitalism”. Conversely praised as the thing that makes Democracy work and damed as something to be rightfully “smashed”, all it really refers to is a cash-based economy. That is all. There is is nothing inherent to the idea that makes it pro or anti-Democratic or leads directly to income inequality or social oppression. It is also not all one thing. What the majority of people are talking about, both positively and negatively, when they refer to Capitalism is laissez-faire Capitalism. The system devised by Adam Smith in 1776. Literally translating form the French to “allow to do”, this system emphasizes free markets and deregulation. Apparently overlooking the fact that the most free and least regulated market is the Black Market, operating outside of any sort of government oversight.

There are, of course, other schools of thought. One of the most famous being that of Keynesian economics. Devised by John Maynard Keynes in 1936, some 160 years after Smith published The Wealth of Nations, this approach advocates a system of accumulation and investment. Businesses making large amounts of money in order to pay the workers, support the business and help it grow. Based in Calvinist principles, such an approach allows business to prosper and expand with no major, inherent detriment to either the workers or the public at large. The workers benefit from gainful employment and raising wages. The public benefit from having available businesses to serve their needs. How the admittedly sketchy laissez-faire system came to be the world's preferred form capitalism, in lieu of this much more modernized and compassionate approach is one of the great mysteries of history. Along with Stone Henge and the wild popularity of the Pet Rock.