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To: marshmallow
Am I seeking ways to deliver fair returns to providers of capital, fair wages to employees, fair prices to customers and suppliers, and fair taxes to local communities?

In a free society with a just government,prices and wages are determined by the market. Profits, in the long run, depend on the quantity of the money supply and the market's uniformity of profit principle, and the average rate of profit equals the sum of net consumption and net investment rates.Whether or not taxes is fair is subjective, but increases in income and inheritance taxes are an assault on saving and suppress economic progress.

2 posted on 04/13/2012 9:11:22 AM PDT by mjp ((pro-{God, reality, reason, egoism, individualism, natural rights, limited government, capitalism}))
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To: mjp

Yet that quote, with its incessant reference to “fair”, implies that these are all moral decisions under the control of the business owner.


3 posted on 04/13/2012 9:44:18 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: mjp
I think I'm going off your topic a bit, but..

In a free society with a just government,prices and wages are determined by the market.

Yes, and we are to be Christian in all our dealings. An extreme example to illustrate: Say there is a market opportunity created by low supply of drugs in NYC. The market will allow extremely high prices for heroin. What should the Christian businessman do?

The answer is obvious, but the point is that the market alone is not the sole determinant of Christian business activity. So in this sense, a Christian capitalist does seek ways to deliver fair returns, wages, prices, etc.

But it is not an either/or, market/morality. The point of the article, I think, is to prod how both can align and both have positive force.

Another example: Market forces create a high demand for generators and water in a hurricane-striken area. The market will support the high prices required for businessmen outside the area to deliver these goods. In fact, only high prices will allow these goods to reach the market. What does the Christian capitalist do?

I think the answer here is an illustration of the good that can be done by the market. The answer IMHO is the Christian capitalist jumps on this opportunity and charges the higher prices necessary. As more do, supply increases, prices decrease and the market 'contributes to the well-being' of the area served.

Stupid compassion would say it's immoral to 'gouge' which would result in less goods and less well-being. As a result of artificially restraining market forces.

5 posted on 04/13/2012 10:57:01 AM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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