Dr Guy, it takes a specific kind of child rearing, or, temperament, etc., for someone to be a consultant/entrepreneur. This in only ONE SET of people types. I am happy you have done well as an e... The error you make is that few people make good e... just as few people are good generals. To judge the rest of the population based on your skill set / temperament must be a wonderful place for you. And, certainly, the 'America' being created since the Reganites began dismantling FDRr's legacy is an America where entrepreneurs can flourish more readily, (unencumbered by inefficient things like human rights, a fair and just economic system, truly treating ALL humans as if they were you), is one you hope for. Just look at GE, look at the most recent chariperson of the FCC, who ruled, "on the public behalf" that the humungo merger should be allowed. A month later she leaves the FCC and takes the CEO (CFO?) position of the new merged-mega communications enterprise. No conflict of interest here... LOL.. just entrepreneurial skills at work. Are these 'your' friends, I wonder?
Yes, a few people can do well with the entrepreneur thing... but does that mean society should be designed to give these people totally free reign, amass power such that they can control the so-called representative government, and screw the 'unnecessary' rest of the people? One famous entrepreneur, back when the Pinkertons were first organized (to threaten, beat up and murder union organizers) boasted that "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half." Such an enterprising gentleman... he knew what services were needed, AND he knew who had the money to pay for those services... and he put them together... free enterprise at work!
Dr Guy, the America you seem to want, (I may have misunderstood you), sadly to say, is one that is pushing most people down into a third world status - rather than using our skills, talents, etc., to create systems that pull them out of third world status. *** Be honest with yourself, go look at the tax tables, and real incomes of all strata of the USA, and compare them, from year to year, beginning in, say 1960, to the present. *** YOU may be doing well 'with your friends' But most Americans are not. And most Americans are not, not because they don't want to work, or work hard, but because most of the sustainable jobs have been moved out of the country by 'entrepreneurs.' Have some of your 'friends' helped move jobs away from the USA, in the name of cheaper labor costs? Big companies have successfully lobbied to remove regulation and oversight on the part of the nasty 'intrusive' feds. Then these same corps write new laws giving them more freedom to abuse the so-called 'free market.' Its not a free market 'sandbox' where most citizens are ant size, and a few corp giants / working for the ultra rich stomp around and squash any ants that get 'uppity.' The free market is an illusion, used to give the powerful license to continue to aggrandize them selves even more, at the expense of the people, in the name of 'free enterprise,' via a rigged 'free market' world. A hungry mind is a sharp mind.... yes? (I wonder if Mr GOO is hungry - except maybe for even more money and power, and more subjects to yell at all the time). NO, I am sure he dines on the best food the 'free market' world can bring to his 'command economy' country.
So, Dr. Guy... the friends with whom you are doing so well consulting... have they been a part of moving jobs out of the USA? Have they been a part of deceptive advertising? have they pushed for reducing fed gov't oversight / regulation of giant corporations' unfair use of the (rigged) free market? Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people, and I admire what some have done... and what they bring can be wonderful. But should the rewards include becoming mega corps that lie, cheat, steal (legally and illegally), use the airwaves to mis-represent? NO!!!! Seeing their creative genius implemented for the benefit of their brothers and sisters (all humans) - along with some physical rewards should be enough. "Power ... power.. power..." the trinity of the emerging quasi American / quasi global elites. "Greed... greed... greed.... the trinity of the USA entrepreneur class." And where will it leave the masses of (the rest of) humanity? In a world filled with Foxxcons (Fox cons?), and 'company stores,' (remember them - another great American /brit - entrepreneur / corporate invention), most people will be treated as chattel, as a commodity to be used, and then thrown away... like hotel maids, retired workers, and defective babies. Oh, I am sure most of these people have ways to rationalize their 'superiority." Kings used religion to teach that they rule because of the 'divine right of kings.... One Louie went so far as to proclaim "I am the state." Calvinism (Protestantism) taught that the rich were the chosen of g-d. Now, most of the UN-evolved creatures that sit atop the pyramid, (I suspect) rationalize that it is their right because their ancestors won the social-darwinism race (were better thieves / oppressors) ... and their heirs, and trust fund kids deserve it because their blood ("good breeding") is superior. (( Note: Actually, Darwin was a rather devout Christian - and delayed publishing his theory - mostly because he was afraid it would be used by some to justify their superior positions - Darwin was afraid that a concept of 'social Darwinism' would be derived from his theory. He was right to be concerned. )) Charles Dickens did a wonderful service helping to expose the folly and dangers of this so-called 'free market.'
Dr guy, when the new entrepreneurs finish consolidating power, will I be forced to beg from one of your business associates / friends: "Sir, may I please have a bowl of gruel?" Or do your friends and associates use their enterprises to lift us all to a more fair, level, and more empowered life? I hope its the latter...