“I’m also talking about U.S. Chamber of Commerce types who are relentlessly bringing in more and more waves of foreign labor.”
But that’s not capitalism. That is collusion between commerce and government, as a result of which government is not enforcing our immigration laws. Both sides belong in jail.
“skilled labor that will work for half the American worker’s wages at the same job.”
True, but not a feature of capitalism. Even a libertarian like Mises said that government had a role to play in keeping the playing field level, but here they’re doing just the opposite.
“This is capitalism”
But it isn’t. It is mercantilism, the collaboration of commerce and government. Eisenhower warned of the military industrial complex, but his fears were too limited in scope. What we have is worse. The entire government is corrupt, and it looks like the entirety of corporate America as well.
“but it isn’t what I would call honest free enterprise, and it’s not good for the American community.”
You could not be more right. Capitalism, on the other hand, with reasonable government serving to prevent abuses, would be honest and good for America (within limits).
“There’s a great deal of crap that goes on under the name of “capitalism.”
Yes, under the name of capitalism. However, there’s a lot of confusion about what capitalism truly is.
The first thing to remember is that the word is a pejorative invented by the left to discredit and scorn the way people tend to do things when left to their own devices.
The role of government in capitalism is limited to the prevention of abuses, such as the use of illegal aliens for low-cost labor.
“If I oppose it, that doesn’t make me a “socialist.”
I didn’t mean to imply any such thing. I was trying to argue that the left, by conflating everything that is not socialism under the label of “capitalism,” seeks to convince low-information citizens (and aliens) that socialism is the only alternative to this horrible “capitalism” under which we toil.
Actually, capitalism and a free market would be a great alternative to what we have now. I’m confident you will agree, because I know you are not a leftist.
That was well-said, dsc. BTW, I was not accusing you for these misapaprehensions, nor did I take it that you were accusing me. I think we’re singing from the same page in the hymn book!