Apparently all it takes for CNN to realize the greatness of capitalism is to reminisce about childhood trick-or-treating.
CNN's "American Morning" condemned socialism and praised capitalism on Oct. 30. No, they weren't discussing big bailouts or entrepreneurs. They were talking about Halloween candy.
"Okay. This is the most, this is the most capitalist of holi- this holiday is so capitalist. It's about getting the most for the least amount of work right," exclaimed business correspondent Christine Romans.
Romans was telling anchors John Roberts and Kiran Chetry that Zillo.com tracks the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating based on "how rich the neighborhood is, how drivable it is, its crime rate - so that you can teach your children to make sure they can get the most, best candy with the least amount of effort. I love that."The segment also included an attack on socialism, pertaining to the redistribution of candy.
"Maybe this is why I'm a business reporter," Romans said. "My mom took all my candy - four kids - divided it up equally and then gave it all back to us in equal amounts and I was like [Romans threw both hands up in the air and gave a look of distain] ... It's not right. It's not right."
Both Roberts and Chetry labeled the candy redistribution as "socialism," as Romans told her story.
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I disagree with Romans'
October 30, 2009 - 11:13 ET by SickofLibsI disagree with Romans' definition of capitalism as "getting the most for the least amount of work."
That's liberalism to me.
Maybe it's productivity.
October 30, 2009 - 11:20 ET by dcnormanMaybe it's productivity. However, the kids could always apply to the Obama Administration for the most goodies - without any labor at all - aside from the paper work.
Chris Norman
Exactly right! It's about
October 30, 2009 - 11:21 ET by mattmExactly right! It's about the God-given liberty to own the fruits of your own labor. That's it and that's all.
The people who put in the most time and the most miles get the most candy.
well, technically...
October 30, 2009 - 12:00 ET by Ken Shepherd...threatening a "trick" if one receives not a "treat" is intimidation and extortion, whereas free market capitalism is based on voluntary exchange.
That said, most trick-or-treating these days is kids going to homes that are giving out candy freely, so it's not really extortion in that sense, but a voluntary exchange based on a holiday's social custom.
But the part about Romans learning at a young age to disdain redistribution of wealth is nice.
You spelled Surprise
October 30, 2009 - 11:21 ET by Jack314You spelled Surprise wrong in the headline
spelling
October 30, 2009 - 11:54 ET by Julia A. SeymourThanks - I fixed it.
Capitalism AND charity
October 30, 2009 - 12:12 ET by mom_roxAt my home we have capitalism AND charity. My kids give me their Almond Joy bars since no one else in my family likes coconut. :)
~~save your tea, dump congress~~
I love Halloween
October 30, 2009 - 15:56 ET by FranksamI'm all for Marxism at the most basic level of the economy, like my household. I tell my wife that "From each according to ability and to each according to needs" is a great idea. Then I suggest something that I need. Once in a while she will go for that line.
I also told my kids over many years that when they were able to provide me with Halloween candy, they were obligated to do so. I did, after all, pay the dentist's bills.
I don't have any small ones around anymore, but I still love Halloween. We live in one of those generous, safe capitalist kind of neighborhoods that many kids love to visit. We get as many as 300 kids (and their young moms) at our house. As long as Harry Smith doesn't show, in drag or otherwise, I'll open the door tomorrow night.
My kids learned long ago
October 30, 2009 - 19:39 ET by queenofcookingMy kids learned long ago that the best neighborhoods in our town do give out the best candy. The homes are farther apart so it takes more time per home (1 acre lots along with many steps to reach each front door from the street). The reward is worth it -- usually a full-size candy bar instead of those measly "fun size."
BTW, it's "Zillow.com"
From The People's Glossary
October 30, 2009 - 20:03 ET by viluzionAt The People's Cube:
Halloween
A progressive international holiday. On this day, in the countries of non-capitalist economic sector, workers and peasants under the leadership of Great Leaders commemorate all the dead communists who, in the name of human progress, died at the hands of other communists as well as non-communists - and also dead non-communists who died in the glorious class struggle for human progress, at the hands of communists and by non-communists alike. In the 20th century alone, victorious ideas of human progress helped hundreds of millions of people to advance from life towards death, so that new generations could enjoy even more progress in the name of advancement.
Indeed, if progress means rendering objects of humanitarian help incapable of doing things on their own, taking risks, making choices, developing independence and self-esteem, then being dead pretty much describes the ultimate goal of social progress and the result of advancement. In this respect, African countries like Zimbabwe, Somalia, Angola, and some others have become the most socially advanced nations of this century, having left behind such former bulwarks of human progress as China, Cambodia, and the former USSR.
In the capitalist United States, where progress and human advancement are obstructed by conservative culture, Republican running dogs, and the Second Amendment to the reactionary Constitution, Halloween is especially important due to its calendar proximity to election days. Around Halloween, thousands upon thousands of Dead-Americans routinely cast Democratic votes, helping the living to advance towards a more progressive society exemplified by the country's quiet and orderly graveyards.
This about sums it up
October 31, 2009 - 10:04 ET by ahusserTwo Cartoons
Okay, Romans strikes out
October 31, 2009 - 11:21 ET by MikeBOkay, Romans strikes out about capitalism. Getting the most for the least amount of work is marxist-socialism. "To each according to his needs, from each according to his abilities", will guarantee the least amount of work. After all, why work hard if you are going to get the same amount as everyone else, whether they work hard of slack off? That is why the Soviet Union was such an economic powerhouse with modern conveniences available to the proletariat.
It is obvious that Romans knows nothing about capitalism. She needs to get out of her comfort zone inhabited by her group of commielibs and go interview a small business owner. She needs to see that a capitalist will be putting in 12 and 14 hour days 6 and 7 days a week to get the business going and keep it going. It is too bad that ignorance isn't painful, and stupidity isn't uniformly fatal.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan