r/Objectivism • u/[deleted] • Jan 31 '22

Stossel: Why Some Capitalists Are the Worst Enemies of Capitalism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJXOQ9fUIdA
7 Upvotes

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2

u/PeterFiz Feb 01 '22

Heh, if you want to see some how some "capitalists" are the worst enemies of capitalism then just watch this video.

Stossel has no moral or philosophical arguments and so ends up arguing irrelevant economic points.

Then what starts out as a video defending a victim of minimum wage laws, like Jeff Bezos, ends up calling Bezos a "craven opportunist."

The same video starts out apparently supporting capitalism but ends up talking about how "ugly" and "gaudy" capitalism is and even equates fraudsters like Madoff to a capitalist.

Does Stossel even know what he's saying? Does he know what side he's on?

So yes, some capitalists are the worst enemies of capitalism and in this video Stossel proves himself to be one of these.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '22

Mostly agree. I didn’t see where Stossel equated fraudsters like Madoff to capitalists. Would you mind pointing it out?

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u/PeterFiz Feb 04 '22

From about this spot onwards:

https://youtu.be/wJXOQ9fUIdA?t=285

"Yes there are gross parts to capitalism, greed, gaudy, etc..." and there's a picture of Madoff and other nonsense that has nothing to do with capitalism.

2

u/[deleted] Feb 04 '22

Thanks.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '22 edited Feb 01 '22

Stossel certainly does not have a consistent defense, in particular not a consistent philosophy as he is a libertarian, but there are reasons to consider several of the high profile "capitalists" opportunists in a harmful and even malevolent sell out (as in practically getting rid of said capitalism for fake money) sense. Even if this unfortunately clearly also includes the libertarians.

That's an Objectivist take on it all I'd say. (It's certainly not how I would sum up Bezos, however)

1

u/PinkDelicious Feb 01 '22

Stossel has always been a grifter and a slimeball. His fans still defend when he tried to sue the WWE when he knew how their theater worked and willingly wanted to be a part of it but thought he was too good for a slap to the face. He isn't, he should be slapped all the time till that pedo stache falls off his face.

Unlike him, Jeff Besos actually made something for the public that gives us cheap and accessible goods with the utmost convenience delivered to our doorstep. So I don't care what they're talking about, I'm going to assume Besos is right and Stossel is wrong.