Meaningful Work and American Capitalism
Meaningful work is one of the keys to personal responsibility, purpose, and self-worth. It instills in us a sense of accountability – the self-respect of providing for our families and engaging in our communities. There’s a connection between reward and accomplishment. There’s a dignity to our work.
Work isn’t just about the production of value in the economic sense or even having money to live. As Pope John Paul II said, “Work is a good thing for man—a good thing for his humanity—because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes ‘more a human being.”
The notions of “universal basic income” or “socialist economic redistribution” just won’t work. Why? Because the human person doesn’t live by bread alone. Humans needs purpose more than money. A guaranteed minimum income is fraught with economic issues, but also moral ones. It takes away personal responsibility, work ethic, and meaning. The mere offering of material sustenance is not enough. Mankind is made for more.
We’re not cogs in a machine, keys on a piano, or so-called, “human resources.” We are persons created in the image of God designed for meaning, purpose, and eternal destiny. We are not one-dimensional economic creatures – we’re soulish beings in need of more.
Labor Day reminds us of the historic power of the American worker within our awesome free market economy. At a time when some are challenging America’s roots in capitalism, we should be more confident than ever in our system that promotes innovation, ingenuity, and growth. It’s hard work, risk and reward, long-term planning, private property, community investment, and enlightened philanthropy that built America like no other economic system in history.
Indeed, human beings have faults. Therefore, we need to make regulatory adjustments from time-to-time. We need laws that go after crony capitalism, insider trading, government deal-making, and tech monopolies. However, the current notion of dumping pure capitalism altogether for some authoritarian or socialist alternative is misguided. The free market, free enterprise system of economics and labor is the best system ever devised.
Labor Day is an excellent opportunity to tell stories of American industry, growth, expansion, and prosperity to encourage younger generations to double-down on capitalism, embrace the integrity of work, and take America to the next level of liberty, influence, and renewal.
Meaningful Work and American Capitalism
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.
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