I’ve been driving a lot in the past couple weeks to see family. On these drives, since I don’t have a way to play podcasts or mp3s over my car stereo, and since it’s a lot of mileage where the only radio stations are top 40, pop country, or classic rock (I am no snob but I’ve just listened to thousands of hours of each of these already) I’ve gotten into the habit of entertaining myself with AM talk radio. So, get ready, this is going to be an easy target, but I just wanted to bitch a little about the stupid things these people are saying, and I don’t dislike any of my friends enough to force them to listen to me ramble about something so frivolous.
Today the host and another guy were having a furious circlejerk about how all their rich friends are goin’ Galt. They’re leaving operations of their business. They’re trying to get dual citizenship somewhere else. They’re battening down the hatches before Obama enacts his evil true socialist plans.
Dear Mr. Talk Radio Host and Caller:
Actual businessmen are still looking for and finding opportunities. Actual smart money doesn’t waste its time calling into shows to bitch about things the President hasn’t even contemplated. When I hear people say “Obama is going to make me close up shop,” I take that as a cue to run like the wind from their business. Why do these people get away with trumpeting that their businesses are shaky? Some of them have investors who should be pissed at them dragging their investment through the mud to make a political point.
Of course, the distinction about “smart money” belies the distinction that most of the complainers weren’t smart about getting into their money. We’ve made ourselves a society where anyone with capital can at least hold it with pretty minimal brainpower. There’s a whole industry of franchising and turnkey businesses. Real estate and equities are long-term winning bets. There’s ways to make a living on government contracts. These are all fine careers to be in. Don’t get me wrong, you have put in long, hard hours, and we are better off for most of your work. But don’t pretend you’re an innovator, or that we should care about your opinion any more than anyone else who works 60 or 80 hours a week. You are not John Galt. And if you’re not innovating, you’re replaceable - just as much a redundancy in the economy’s eyes as blue collar workers have been to their employers the past few decades. Remember that.
Also, if you really do truly get your rocks off to small government and libertarianism, well, I can respect that. Principled libertarians are some of the best idealists and believers in their cause that I know. But if you were principled, then your talking point wouldn’t be “I’m applying for dual citizenship.” That’s just mind bogglingly stupid. One government too big? Put yourself under the thumb of two! Yes, I understand what you actually are trying to do - live out some more jetsetter rich man fantasies, structure your money so as to avoid even more of your tax responsibility, and take advantage of governments with loose morals in distant lands. So just come out and say it.
Or, if you do actually believe your bullshit, take your sorry unpatriotic ass to any embassy and renounce your citizenship. I say “unpatriotic” because the bullshit isn’t any longer just about “socialism” - it’s about how the very fabric of America has changed, and the majority of us are just moochers who are sucking away the life force of these brave, moneyed men, and our democracy and institutions aren’t good enough any more to be trusted (when it suits you of course).
You are misanthropes, or sociopaths, or just plain jackasses. I respect your right to whine and moan as much as you want, but you have made it very clear that you don’t respect mine, and that you hold me and most of your fellow citizens in contempt. Get out.
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The small business owners who I personally know are innovating in changing markets, forging new paths, or at least, aren’t following a script and instruction kit. And wouldn’t you know it? They’re not leaving the country, or contracting their business, or talking trash about our democracy. That’s all I ask. You are more than welcome to compare Obama to Stalin. He’s a man. He can take it. Just knock it off with your shameless elitism against the rest of us.