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August 06, 2008
Hope
Having done basically two things in my life so far, I've come to realize one important fact: the reason music continues to be written is the same reason capitalism is the best economic system.
I pursued the singer songwriter dream for what seemed like a really long time. I feel like I know the game. I feel like I understand why people go down that road and pursue that dream. As a songwriter, the most beautiful thing about sitting down to write a song is that there is no limit to how wonderful the song can be. There is no limit to how creative you can be. There is no limit to how many songs you can write. There is only the dream of creating something great. Like Stevie Wonder did. Like Billy Joel did. Like John Mayer is doing.
Now, I'm a small business owner. One of the reasons I love doing business is because there is no limit to how great my business can become. (I know, this isn't really true in America today, but globally speaking we're pretty darn free here). This idea of limitless greatness is what this country was founded on. It's the reason this country became great. As I look back at the colonial period, the industrial revolution, the guilded age and the .com boom, I see that the engine that drove all of these eras was the possibility for man to create something great. When I hear liberal politicians speak, I feel my hope being drained. When I read about Barack Obama wanting to tax people making $250,000 per year almost 60%, I feel my hope being drained. When I hear him talk about raising the capital gains tax to 30%, I feel my hope being drained. Not because i'm greedy, but because I know that type of paradigm always leads to collapse. When I hear about bail-out after bail-out that the treasury and federal reserve are implementing, my heart just breaks. Because it's just one more step towards a complete nanny-state. It's just one more brick in the wall of the government saying to the average american "It's ok, you don't need to take responsibility for your foolish actions! Here's some money!". Now, please do not misunderstand me here. I am not a victim. Please do not hear me whining. Rest assured, I'm going to fight for liberty all my life. I just feel overwhelmed when I realize how far we've come from where we started as a country.
The point is this: the model exemplified in music will always be the best argument for capitalism. The reason people continue to write songs is because there is no limit to how great their songs can become. And the hope of greatness is the most powerful engine.
Posted by chriscoxmusic at August 6, 2008 08:15 AM