Grannie's Virtues

"Ah, for a little more Calvinism - and a little less, er, 'depleted moral capital.'"

Thus sayeth Ross Douthat in a good post on the paradoxes of capitalism. In the news these days, I'm constantly struck by the remedy offered to the economic plight we find ourselves in. The answer is: spending. And tax cuts to encourage spending. Now I recognize that there is much more going on, but I have yet to hear the majority of commentators comment on how saving, investment, frugality can be good things for the economy as a whole. In the short term we might feel the pinch, but in the long term we'll be healthier. Banks don't just put savings in mattresses after all. They make money by investing your money.

Thus, while I have my fair share of problems with them, it's time that we heard a little bit more from people in the Acton Institute, and a little less from the likes of the libertarians and socialist folk among us in our country. Or, perhaps I should ask: why not more Wellum on the airwaves?

We need a more virtuous bourgeoisie!