the capitalism thing

i'm trying this out here, but i'm thinking about the ANTHROPOLOGY of our culture's relation to capitalism and how (we) may be reaping the rewards/punishments of those attitudes:

1. widespread distrust of capitalism, nostalgia for europe, socialism, etc. promoted tirelessly in (nearly) all schools, and in most mass media (bad guys often businessmen)

2. distrust of "getting ahead" philosophy (the 1950s version and the 1980s yuppie version), but what did we put in its place? "coolness"?

3. lack of attention to the MATH of our culture. (a) calculating interest and principle (b) how the world of finance works. [eg. when banking rules are challenged in Congress, who cares?]

4. Laziness and/or hoping "the government" will fix it. Without much evidence that the government's "fixes" help too much (Amtrak, Post Office) we persist in fantasies that (e.g.) that government-run health care would be a good thing. Now applies to "helping" people "stay in their houses"... we are seduced by good-sounding phrases...

5. Widespread corruption. I see this as (a) Democratic version - forcing the private sector to do the work of government, assuming "leveling up" is the government's work (b) Republican - hoping, against hope, that free market principles can work in a system already hobbled by say a 600 page tax code not to mention Congressional fiats... it aint' that strong! (c) Everyone -- easily passing blame, whether its to the "Bush Administration" or Barney Frank, there's plenty to go along, including Hollywood, and the corporations that don't promote capitalism, but are afraid to be who they are