The ace up the capitalist’s sleeve is that most people like some of the products and services that Capitalism provides. I know I do. Socialism is focused on the basics — reasonable housing costs, reasonable health care costs, fire and police protection, and education. All necessary services but not much fun. Capitalism is fun, Capitalism is a trip to Disneyland, gambling in Las Vegas, seeing a rock concert, attending a football game, drinks with friends on Friday Dinner, a nice diner on the town, a flashy convertible, and any of the thousands of other amusements that consumers distract themselves with. Socialists want to guarantee you a minimum standard of living while Capitalists want you to have a good time. These are two very different experiences.

This is why I find myself very much a mixed economy person. Yes, I want government services but I still want a good time. And this is why getting rid of Capitalism is nearly impossible. We have had the power to stop Capitalism for years. All consumers would need to do is stop buying the unnecessary goods and services that Capitalism provides. Which is practically almost everything a modern persons wants, so this also is why it won’t happen. I mean a Socialist Utopia is a great idea and all but if I have to give up cable television to get it, my decision becomes more difficult.

Giving up consumer items is a difficult sell even to the most sympathetic audience. I was talking with a woman who was railing against business mentality and capitalist greed. She couldn’t understand why people balked at paying more taxes to help the poor. I suggested that we all stopped buying unnecessary consumer items and just buy necessities. If there were no consumers of these products, the businesses that provide them would soon fail. She considered it for a moment and I could see her struggle. Finally, she said, “But I like my things.” And that my friends is the problem. Socialism requires a certain level of surrendering pleasures so that everyone can lead a better life. This is an increasingly difficult argument to make.

A hundred years ago, this same argument would get a better reception because so many people lived at a subsistence level. There was nothing to give up because there was nothing to spare. A broad swath of the Western Middle Class has been having a lot of fun since the end of World War II and they aren’t about to give it up, and, not surprisingly, Socialism has lost its allure. This leaves us with the struggle ahead — how do we make Socialism more fun?