Capitalism is supply and demand, market economics, what it is not is govt handouts and/or regulations/interference etc.
That's right. That is pure-play capitalism. Can you point to an economy that is based on it? I can't.
The fact this needs to be explained to those "pro business" types is both sad and ironic.
Maybe some of the "pro-business" types you feel you are "explaining things" to are actually living in the here-and-now, rather than this idealistic text-book you are quoting from?
I don't live in Edmonton anymore, it is a great town with wonderful people. Govt rarely represents the average citizen, neither of us should be or likely are naive enough to believe that. That is, in fact, how "business" works.
I don't necessarily have an issue with that, what I do have an issue with is the hypocrisy of calling govt subsidies "capitalism". That gets five Nelsons. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
I think you'll have to re-read my post. When you do, please note I didn't say it was CAPITALISM. I said it was BUSINESS. One is an ideology and the other is an assessment of the state of affairs.
Like it or lump it, right now governments all over the world are clamoring for business. I know, because in my job I field calls from City of X, or State of Y, or Country of Z's economic development office asking whether I would relocate my company to their jurisdiction... to their tax-base... to increase the jobs in their region. Can I get them a meeting with my CEO.
I dodge these calls and don't bother returning them... it's a waste of their time and mine mostly. There are numerous reasons why my business is where it is and most business aren't looking to up and move. Nevertheless, these economic development offices exist for a reason... and it isn't to line MY pocket. What do YOU think their objective is?
As Amazon and other examples illustrate, sometimes there is a deal to be done. I give kudos to the analysts in Edmonton's economic development office, who obviously had a fish and landed it... in a deal that, from the outside... I don't live in Edmonton either... looks like it can be a win-win.
That's business. You see socialists have their motivations too. Two can play, etc.
You can argue what the true motives of the City of Edmonton were... and one always should look at motivations... I can only give you my experience, but the typical economic development office bureaucrat is not out to line my pockets or to directly screw you. They want to maximize jobs and tax-base and that's what gets them cache with their boss, a raise, a year-end bonus and maybe someday a corner office, a shot a public office or what have you.
