Do not be misled by the title. I do not believe that capitalism is sinful. I do believe that people are sinful, however.
Take a recent article by Reuters, which cites the exploitation of “Obama-mania” for example. Tickets for Obama’s inauguration ceremony are being sold for as high as $10,000, and people are buying them. Georgetown residents are renting their apartments out for as much as a $25,000 stay during the festivities, and people are renting them. There will certainly be vendors swarming the Capitol building selling Official Obama paraphernalia of all types at exorbitant prices, and people will assuredly buy them, even if it is an Official Obama 8-Track Player.
Anyone who has been involved with official government ceremonies knows that it is illegal to charge money to attend these events, but the average American does not know that. This situation has enabled profiteers and opportunists to exploit the ignorance of citizens and violate their altruistic expectations. I would hate to be the person who paid $10,000 for a non-existent ticket to a free ceremony. It would be enough to make me lose faith in humanity. While I know that this is not President-elect Obama’s fault, this is perfectly illustrative of an idealized society. A Utopia is a grand idea, but it would never work. The sinfulness of man will always find a way to exploit altruism in order to gain advantage. (Likewise, the sinfulness of man will always find a way to resist or defy rules in order to prevent a loss of liberty.)
The residents of Georgetown, on the other hand, are not violating any rules or laws and have every right to rent their private property to anyone who is willing to pay. While their preposterous prices are certainly exploitative, it is a different form of exploitation. Theirs is based on supply and demand, while the ticket sellers’ are based on emotional euphoria and a presumed general ignorance. Washington, D.C. hotels have largely sold out for the event and residents are merely providing an alternative. The ticket sellers do not advertise that these tickets can be obtained freely to those who are willing to wait. In other words, personal gain at the expense of another’s unneeded personal loss philosophically and morally defines a transgression.
As for the vendors, their example is a perfect illustration of the difference in individual conscience. One vendor may provide a variety of items that are of poor quality and intended to deceive the client of their value. Others may provide a charitable antithesis, items that provide a gain to the client at the loss of the vendor. (The vendor’s gain will be the assumed knowledge that he is furthering his cause.)
People should not be prohibited from taking advantage of gullibility in a capitalistic society. After all, that is how we acquired the territory in the Louisiana Purchase and the Alaska Purchase. However, since the fall of Adam and Eve, the desires and fears of Man have always been exploited for the purpose of another’s gain or prevention of loss. What differentiates Capitalism and Socialism (or Equalitarianism, to be politically correct)is this: Capitalism exploits desires in order to further the opportunity for gain at personal sacrifice sui juris; Socialism exploits desires in order to glorify personal sacrifice and limit the opportunity for gain.
Those who recognize the deficiencies of man have an obligation to exploit it in one way or another. Those who are exploiting expensive tickets to a free event are those who will benefit in a Utopian society at the exclusive disadvantage to others. Those who are exploiting their property to a willing, informed client are those who will benefit in a capitalistic society at a potential advantage to others. Again, I know President-elect Obama is not responsible for these ticket-sellers, but in order to promote a beneficial, opportunistic change for all, he must advocate Capitalism, not Utopianism.
