When the merchant class becomes the elite ruling class, do societies tend to flourish or flounder? Or is there any pattern?
Perhaps I'm elitist at heart, or perhaps the current landscape of corruption has been too influential on my worldview, but I'm skeptical of the merchant classes ability and character. I do love liberalism and markets, and I want my leaders to be pro-markets. But in my naive understanding of the past, the ruling class was educated in how to rule, whereas the merchant class was uneducated but thought themselves wise because they had money.
In essence, there's wisdom the market doesn't ever teach the merchant, and that lack of wisdom can sometimes be seen in the garishness of ads.
Neat! 🤓 Also, I wish more people could distinguish between commerce and capitalism.
Yeah, and also “the economy”
When the merchant class becomes the elite ruling class, do societies tend to flourish or flounder? Or is there any pattern?
Perhaps I'm elitist at heart, or perhaps the current landscape of corruption has been too influential on my worldview, but I'm skeptical of the merchant classes ability and character. I do love liberalism and markets, and I want my leaders to be pro-markets. But in my naive understanding of the past, the ruling class was educated in how to rule, whereas the merchant class was uneducated but thought themselves wise because they had money.
In essence, there's wisdom the market doesn't ever teach the merchant, and that lack of wisdom can sometimes be seen in the garishness of ads.
But like I said, maybe I'm just elitist.