April 22, 2006
Why Aren't We Rich?
A good question from Jonathan Pearce at Samizdata.
He links to a book review "chronicling how filthy rich some prominent American leftists are. The usual collection of intellectual gargoyles are on show: Ralph Nader, Nancy Pelosi and Michael Moore" and wonders:
What intrigues me is why there are so few seriously, stinkingly, rich folk on the libertarian side of the street, so to speak. There are a few libertarian friends of mine with decent jobs, nice houses; some have inherited fairly serious money and do not have to work; but I don't know any of our number who has the sort of wealth described in Jason's book review. It is a paradox that celebrants of capitalism and market economics are often on their uppers, financially, in my experience, although my impressions are just that, impressions.
Certainly, a huge part is the belief that "I've got mine." I've always suspected that a Jon Corzine, or a pick-your-favorite internet millionaire are comfortable making it difficult for the next entrepreneur. But holy cow -- they have Corzine, Senator Cantwell, all the Kennedies, George Soros, Hollywood, &c.
Certainly some wealthy businesspeople support the GOP, but they tend not to be the ideologues that limousine liberals are.