Have you ever noticed how the perpetrators of economic catastrophes are able to shift the blame to innocent victims?

I’m sure it’s occurred to you that our economic system is falling apart. Of course the ones responsible for it blame capitalism, businesspeople, greedy speculators, foreign markets, oil sheiks, oil companies, China, consumers overspending, consumers underspending etc., etc., etc. ad nauseam.

Maybe it’s about time we uncover those responsible for these crimes of economic mayhem.

Something for Nothing

How unfortunate it is that evolution, knowledge and individual experience hasn’t weeded out the “something for nothing” trait in most people. Have you observed the fact this undesirable trait is stronger than ever, firmly entrenched in the collective unconscious of the human race? Why this is so—I’m not sure. It could be that it is natural for people to attempt the “easy” way out of all their problems and challenges. Maybe the blessings of individualism, free enterprise and personal liberty and freedom haven’t been around long enough to become a permanent part of the human consciousness.

The great libertarian Robert Ringer laments that the human race may be a failed experiment. I’m not sure if he is correct or not—but he certainly has much justification for his pessimism. Of course, he obviously has some hope for the future or he wouldn’t continue supplying us with his wisdom and insights.

Think about this unhappy fact. As long as individuals continue believing they can receive something for nothing and that our government is a nurturing source of goodies and benefits—there will be sociopaths, charlatans and altruists ready to play the role of Santa Claus.

You know, maybe Ringer is right. It is understandable that children believe in Santa and all his helpers—but when adults embrace the Santa Claus myth, we’re in real trouble.

The Poison in the System

Obviously, government interventionism is poisoning our economic system. For a long time nobody noticed the patient (economy) was becoming sicker and sicker. As difficult as it is to believe, most people actually thought the patient was the epitome of good health. Now they can no longer deny that the patient is extremely ill, possibly on his deathbed.

Consider this. The American people have lost sight of what caused the problems. They no longer understand cause and effect relationships as it pertains to economic matters. Of course, the establishment deftly obscured matters to protect their own vested interests. Really, do you expect to hear the truth or any words of wisdom from politicians, government bureaucrats, “intellectuals” or the media? I certainly hope not. After all, there could be man-eating hungry lions in the den—hungering for some warm-blooded flesh—and still the establishment would try to convince you that within the comforts of the den, your salvation awaits you.

The Illusion of Government Interventionism

Here’s the way it is. Government interventionism on the marketplace doesn’t work, can’t work and never will work. From the beginning of time throughout eternity, it is doomed to massive failure.

Do you know that all interference with voluntary exchanges violates Natural and Economic Law—no matter what altruists, do-gooders and world-improvers claim. Ask them to supply you some proof for their unwarranted claims. Guess what? They don’t have any. In fact the causes of our current economic crisis are quack monetary policies, destructive regulation of business, deficit spending, excessive taxation, foreign excursions, drug wars, wars on poverty, Patriot Acts, etc., etc, etc.

Realize this. There is absolutely no proof that capitalism or the marketplace failed. If you were driving 60 miles per hour down the highway and someone shot out one of your tires you may lose control of your car and suffer immediate death. If someone spiked the sugar bowl with arsenic and you sweetened your cereal with it every morning—you would eventually become ill—and might possibly die.

This is what our government has done to our economic system. They have sabotaged capitalism—they have poisoned our economic system. They have prevented the marketplace from working efficiently for the benefit of all.

The Blame Game

By now you realize these victimizers are blaming the victims. Is it pissing you off yet?

In Eric Berne’s marvelous book “Games People Play” he describes the phenomena of how a person victimizes another in certain ways such as nagging, bitching, falsely accusing and other insidious methods people use to victimize. Finally a person gets fed up with playing the victim and fights back. This is when the victimizer changes roles and suddenly begins acting like a victim and transforms the original victim into a victimizer. It’s evil, but people do it all the time—and no groups are more proficient at this switch than politicians, bureaucrats and altruists. They are masters at playing the “blame game.”

Now these evil masters of the “blame game” are accusing everyone else of causing our economic woes—including the groups I mentioned at the beginning of this article.

Now imagine this happy thought. The evil masters of the “blame game” inadvertently gaze into a mirror. Suddenly they catch a glimpse of the purveyors of economic crisis and chaos—they catch a glimpse of themselves. Unable to pull themselves away from the horror of it all, they see reflections in the background—reflections of all the suffering they caused. They don’t know it but they have entered the ‘Twilight Zone.”

Finally to their dismay, they discover there is no escape from intractable karmic forces. They are quickly inflicted with the festering sores of their unfortunate victims. Miraculously, karma has cleansed the victims of economic mischief of all their afflictions. We finally realize justice for all.

I do have one question though. Can we ever forgive those who inflict so much misery on others?

Robert A. Meyer
http://libertarianway.com/