Capitalism and Its Discontents

Capitalism and Its Discontents

Almost everyone knows that without banks we couldn’t get mortgages, businesses couldn’t get credit to grease the wheels of commerce, and there would be no machine on every corner to spit out cash when we need it. But by and large we hate banks and most especially bankers. Everyone knows that without our medical system we would be sick longer and in the end die sooner. But by and large we hate insurance companies, hospitals, doctors, and big drug companies. Everyone knows that without cable companies we wouldn’t get to see our favorite teams and shows, and be reduced to, er, reading. But by and large we hate our cable provider, the apparent inventors of “Press 1 for English,” followed by maze-like instructions that get you nowhere. And everyone knows that it is the telephone companies that allow us to call anywhere, anytime, from anywhere, but mention any phone company by name and you will unleash tales of incomprehensible bills, indifferent service, and “We value your business, so please hold for an hour or so while we monitor your call for quality purposes.”