Two kinds of capitalism

There are two different kinds, or definitions, of capitalism.

1. Capitalism as a system of government-granted privileges. Many of the 19th century critics of capitalism opposed this capitalism.

2. Capitalism as a system of free enterprise and competition, with no government regulation of the market. Many of the 20th century defenders of capitalism defended this capitalism.

I totally oppose the first kind of capitalism. I am totally in favor of the second kind of capitalism.

Another example of how government benefits big business at the expense of small business

There was an article in Norway's largest newspaper, Aftenposten, last monday (30 October) about how the Norwegian food authority, Mattilsynet, in three days last week closed 7 (out 0f 28 controlled) restaurants in Oslo.

No one has been hurt by these restaurants, and yet, Mattilsynet can close them from one minute to the next, and command the guests to leave the restaurant.

But, as lawyer Christian Aubert in the restaurant business association Bedre Uteliv says, "This has undoubtedly something to do with which position you have got in society" and he adds that Gilde (a big Norwegian meat producer) did not have to close during the e-coli scandal, in spite of the fact that a child died in that scandal.

This is another example of how government benefits big business at the expense of small business.