Elmer Fudd on Capitalism

America is a capitalist country. It always has been, thanks to the wisdom of its founders who believed in individual liberty. Our economy became the largest and most productive in history because our people were free to innovate and profit from their own innovations, and were free to compete with other producers. Innovation and competition in a free market make higher-quality products available for lower prices to more people. They also create jobs and raise the overall standard of living. The American free market produced the most prosperous society in human history, and it remains available to everyone as long as it remains free.

I didn't really learn capitalism in my formative years, due either to my disinterest or deficiencies in my public education. But I remember these two cartoons I watched on Saturday morning:

Heir-Conditioned (1955)


Yankee Dood-it (1956)


I learned that these two cartoons were actually commissioned by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in the mid-1950s, to provide an entertaining introduction to how capitalism works. The first in the series, By Word of Mouse (1954), is not available online, but all three are on DVD.

Today, some people in our country, including unfortunately our President, have lost faith in capitalism, partly because of the moral failings of a few businessmen. These moral failings by individuals show flaws in humanity, not in capitalism. How many million more businesses continue to operate successfully and with integrity? How many more businesses continue every day to benefit their customers and employees, and build the economy?

Business is not the bad guy. Capitalism remains our best engine for prosperity, but our public schools do not currently teach it as such. They show our kids snide anti-capitalist propaganda like The Story of Stuff (a real looney tune). How about something that's actually fun to watch, and tells kids how to engage in the free market and build a future?

Elmer Fudd needs to host a conference for the NEA.