Rep. Chris Stewart recently wrote a series of op-eds singing the praises of capitalism. There are just a few problems with those letters.
First, he pretends the only options are capitalism or Marxism. The truth is there are close to an infinite number of forms of capitalism, some better than others. We have a mixed economy and always have.
Second, the form Stewart and his party pursue is not free market capitalism. It’s corporatism. They preach about the evils of wealth redistribution when they do little besides redistribute wealth to the top. It’s socialism for the rich.
Third, he repeats the talking point that all you need to succeed is hard work. No, you get rich in a capitalist society by having a product that sells well. Americans are busting their tails and not getting rewarded for it.
Finally, he tries to smear politicians like Bernie Sanders as extremist socialists, even though the policies they are pushing are based off those in the UK, Scandinavia, Japan, etc. They are not advocating the policies of Venezuela.
Does Mr. Stewart realize the difference between the UK and Venezuela? Perhaps he doesn’t — or he’s deliberately misleading people.
Paul Olsen
South Salt Lake