song for theme #19A: Economic Individualism

“Free Markets” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “Wild Horses” by Mick Jagger¹ and Keith Richards/ The Rolling Stones

Making money

It’s not hard to do

One good idea

Can bring lots to you

Innovate, take chances

I always say

And work hard

If you wanna make hay

Free markets², they’re what I prefer

Free markets, economic ills they cure

In competition

I play to win

Seeking big profit³

It’s not a sin

In picking winners

Seek out wisdom

The market’s good

At weeding out scum

Free markets, they’re what I prefer

Free markets, economic ills they cure

It helps to have money

To make even more⁴

Invest wisely

It’s easy to score

You know I work hard

To raise capital⁵

So it hurts to see taxes

Take half of it all

Free markets, they’re what I prefer

And less government, of that I’m sure

Governments meddle⁶

From us they rob

Needless regulation

It destroys jobs

Their subsidies⁷ and tariffs

Won’t go away

A level field

Where I wanna play

Free markets, they’re what I prefer

And less government, of that I’m sure

Government bureaucrats

They can be rough

Starting a new business

It can be tough

Social do-gooders

Everywhere they lurk

Welfare programs

Trash the will to work

Free markets, we had them once

Free markets, not more free lunch

Free markets, where I wanna play

Free markets, we’ll have them some day

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS

1—The author finds it ironic, given this song, that Mick once attended the London School of Economics!

2— A private, free-enterprise system based on consumers, a price system, and forces of supply and demand.    

3— Profit is the revenue taken in minus the cost outlay associated with a business transaction.   

4—This is the essence of capitalism and why generally its winners are those who start with more money.

5— Capital = the goods and resources (or their value) for production of other goods or to produce income.

6—This can involve outright ownership, purchases, production, taxation, transfer payments, regulation, etc.

7— Subsidy = government payment to producers or distributors in an industry that supposedly needs help.

Comment: Emotions like compassion, guilt, fear, etc. can adversely affect pursuing what this theme is about.