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Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Wynton Hall :: Townhall.com Columnist
Karl Marx is Not the Father of Capitalism
by Wynton Hall
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Sen. Barack Obama won for a simple reason: historical amnesia.

I once asked a room full of college students who the father of capitalism was.

Crickets began chirping as blank stares shot my way.

“Oh, come on,” I prompted. "Does anyone want to take a guess?”

Finally, one bold student blurted out, “Isn’t it Karl Marx?”

(That creaking sound you’re hearing is Adam Smith rolling over in his grave.)

Sadly, this is a true story. And sadly, this kind of economic and historical amnesia goes a long way toward explaining how the most far-Left candidate in American presidential history wound up in the White House.

The reason Sen. McCain’s “socialism” charges didn’t stick is precisely because “socialism” means little to voters who don’t know what the term even means. Public schools teach multicultural curriculum but seldom if ever the basics of free market economic principles.

But don’t take my word for it. Today, go out and ask five members of Sen. Obama’s target demographic—the 18 to 25-year old voter—to explain how capitalism works.

Then sit and wait for the crickets to begin chirping again.

Joe the Plumber understands free markets because he’s operated a business. But without proper economic education or real world experience, young people are left in economic darnkness.

And what about the 46 million Americans who don’t even pay taxes?

Do they understand that President-Elect Obama's economic designs only rattle an already rickety economic infrastructure? Of course not. Continued...

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About The Author

Wynton Hall is a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and author of "The Right Words: Great Republican Speeches That Shaped History".

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Dems Now Want Bipartisanship?
After 8 years of the most hateful words and acts by Democrats, the media and their far left groups against Conservatives & Bush we are now supposed to work toward unity with these self righteous , hateful, politically "enlightened" dregs of humanity?

I say Obama, the Democrats & the media should get the same respect as they gave Bush and Conservatives for 8 years. NONE!

...........
Finally, one bold student blurted out, “Isn’t it Karl Marx?”

Yaaaaa! Apparently Mr. Hall isn't quick it picking up sarcasm. Pandering to your confirmation bias at Hoover Institute doesn't really help in that department either.


"Joe the Plumber understands free markets because he’s operated a business. "

Indeed, Joe, I mean, Sam, the unlicensed laborer, has never ran a business and happily been toiling like any other worker now all of sudden he is a poster-child for small business "owners" *wink wink*. Moreover, operating a business does not necessarily mean the owner knows much about the intricacies of "free enterprise" philosophy. You are giving Joe way too much credit where it is not due.
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