Michael Moore

Michael Moore was on the new Jay Leno show that is now on at 10pm and he introduced his new film entitle "Capitalism: A Love Story". Now much to your surprise, I actually try not to close my mind when it comes to politics. So I listened to what Michael Moore had to say. And I agreed with him, IN PART, regarding what he had to say about capitalism. He says in his movie that capitalism is evil. I think a part of what he does and says is for controversy and show. Anyway, here is how I kind of agree with him.

For those of us who are Mormon, we all know that the highest law of community living is the law of consecration. In this type of community everyone willingly gives up everything to the Bishop who then divvies up the goods based on need (Cliff Notes version). An important point to understand: no force or coercion take place. No one goes to jail if they don't give up everything. They may be asked to leave Zion, but no force is involved.

So capitalism? Capitalism is an economic system that is driven by the want of money. And the love of money, according to 1 Timothy 6:10, is the root of all evil. Hmmmmm... Let's face it, if no one wants money or cares about money, capitalism is not so great. There has to be a drive for money for capitalism to work. So capitalism has the potential to foster this love for money. It is a system so focused on money that many become infatuated with it, so much that no amount of money is ever enough. They obsess over it, every living thought is focused on how to get more money. It is a system with no check on that love for money that lies within us all. This is how I agree with Mr. Moore, but here are a few of my disagreements...

Capitalism and the law of consecration may appear to be polar opposites, and in many regards they are. But one thing they do have in common is that no one ever forces you to give your money away to someone else. Freedom, or free agency, are both a key element in both systems. A system that forces you to give your money to someone else takes away your freedom. Even if they do with your money exactly what you would have done anyway (which rarely happens), it still steals your freedom. So in that regard capitalism is more like the law of consecration than, say, socialism. So while some may argue or think that socialism is more closely related to the law of consecration than capitalism, what socialism lacks is so vital to the plan of salvation that it's absence throws the whole system to the opposite end of the spectrum of economic systems...and what it lacks is freedom.

Capitalism is not perfect. But it may be as good as it gets as far as preparing us to live a higher law such as consecration. If we can avoid that love of money immersed in capitalism, the law of consecration may be a breeze.