Commentary

There are two economic systems at opposite ends of the spectrum, and, surprise! they also mirror political doctrines.

There’s capitalism, where one’s ideas, luck and perseverance may be rewarded with money, fame and success. Capitalists should be, and oftentimes are, conservative.

There’s totalitarianism, where a ruthless few, through exercise of fear, greed and disregard for human rights, sit atop the heap, kicking boulders down on Everyman.

Capitalism is an equal opportunity game. Totalitarianism, not at all. The one thing they have in common is the luck of birthright.

There was this guy, Howard Hughes, whose father left him the Hughes Machine and Tool Company. It owned the patent to the only piece of equipment able to extract crude oil from beneath the earth’s surface. The world beat a path to his door and he became filthy rich. He thought it up. He deserved to be rewarded.

Another guy’s father and grandfather were dictators of North Korea, living in luxury while the country’s hard-working folks struggle in poverty and have no hope of bettering their lives.

Many totalitarian regimes mimic their free counterparts by holding elections. And the people in power always seem to win. Often, their opponents die at an amazingly brisk clip.

Watching the national political scene, it has been frightening to hear various members of the Democrat party accuse former president Donald Trump of being a threat to democracy.

Yet, here we are, 75 days from the 2024 Election Day, and, over the summer, president Joe Biden went from being the party’s selection to oppose Trump on the ballot to being shuffled off to one vacation after another.

In his stead, vice president Kamala Harris, who, prior to being thrust into the spotlight, held the dubious distinction of being the lowest-rated vice president ever.

Carrying her water is the national press...not all, but most. Suddenly, Harris has reinvigorated the Democrats. Happy days are here again.

Pollsters are crowing that Harris is nipping at Trump’s heels, making the race for the White House razor close. Remember: in 2016, polls wrongly predicted that Hillary Clinton had the presidency in the bag.

So, while the world smolders in the Middle East and Ukraine, we bite our nails awaiting the outcome of the 2024 election.

Who’ll it be?