"There’s a simple argument that American thinking has long made when it comes to capitalism. It goes like this. Capitalism brings many ills with it, sure. It makes people immoral, foolish, vain, short-sighted, selfish. It leads to strife and division and greed. But it’s worth it. Why? Because in the end, we all get rich. In fact, it’s the only way that we all get rich in the end — and not end up poor. And being poor brings worse things with it.

There’s a jackpot at the end of capitalism’s rainbow. All we need to do is follow it — even if it leads us through the flood and the storm and the desert. We’ll be heroes, by the way, having overcome our worst selves. And we’ll be rich, too.

It’s the kind of story that appeals to Americans, interestingly enough. They love a tale where they can have their cake, and eat it too — where they get to revel in flaws, never really transcend them. So what could be better than the idea that capitalism’s many bads somehow magically turn into goods? Who wouldn’t go for that?"

[eand.co]