LOL!!

In many years of experience, I have never been surprised by a sense of brilliance in a federal employee. Dead lice won't fall off most of them!

You're right about most people - they're in the first group I mention.

I like this article and the reference to Lenore Skenazy. I am fan of Skenazy. I actually think most people who think capitalism kills people a) believe capitalism means the crony capitalism you describe and b) aren't that knowledgeable about how capitalism actually works. Maybe some of them have positions of authority in the gov't and don't want to relinquish them, but often people just don't know. They don't really teach it in mainstream schools. That is not b/c of a socialist conspiracy. It's just easier to avoid anything that might possibly be controversial. So people don't learn the very basics about someone working at store or factory and having a choice about how much to spend and how much to save for investment in her own business or equity shares of other businesses.