Richard Karlgaard’s column Digital Rules in the February 12 (Man, these magazines publish early, eh?) issue of Forbes is entitled, How Moral Is Capitalism?

… I do not consider moneygrubbing the purpose of life. Never have. The use of God’s gifts comes closer for me.

Still, moneygrubbing– a.k.a. the search for profit– has its purpose. Money (profit) is a tool. It is capital. Without capital there is no capitalism. Innovation starves. Prosperity weakens. Societies stagnate. God-given gifts wither. This is especially true for humanity’s wonderfully zany outliers: artists, inventors, entrepreneurs. They need capitalism more than anyone.

Money is good, therefore, because capitalism is good. It delivers the goods, literally, and better– broadly and individually– than does any other system. Hugo Chavez would argue that point, but he’s nuts.

Not much to say here other than I agree totally. Karlgaard continues in the same vein and also talks about the woes of redistribution of wealth, which makes for some interesting reading. I highly recommend picking up a copy of the February 12 issue.