Crony Capitalism

There’s a difference between good capitalism and crony capitalism.

Good Capitalism

Capitalism is good, actually. Or rather, it’s a vehicle for capital to travel through, and more importantly, ideas. Pure capitalism can launch all kinds of creative innovations, and also help workers build wealth. Capitalism, when left to flourish in positive ways, is the “invisible hand” that guides markets, as Adam Smith put it in his famous work “The Wealth of Nations.” Capitalism has the potential to fuel ideas and pay workers well for the role they play in creating the product or service.

Crony capitalism is when governments and corporations conspire together in order to squeeze every drop of capital out of the working class. People no longer have the means to start a business. They work far too many hours a week to barely afford rent. Humans suffer because of a ruling ownership class that is never satisfied.

Budgeting in a cruel and unpredictable world ruled by money

We could have had fully automated luxury gay space communism by now, but instead we’re just dive bombing on fire into some weird version of it like AI-powered self-driving gourmet puritan earth capitalism. It’s whatever though. Greed is what it boils down to. The suffering, the poverty, the time we lose every day of our lives trying to earn a living. That’s what makes crony capitalism distinct from the capitalism that Adam Smith wrote of.

Capitalism should build and uplift, not tear down, leave empty, and crush communities.

Budgeting properly builds your armor against these forces.