You Can Love Capitalism and Still Call Out Greed

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about wealth—real wealth. The kind that stacks billions on top of billions while the people who make it all possible can barely afford rent. And here’s the thing:

I’m a capitalist. I believe in the hustle. I believe in the freedom to build something from the ground up. I believe in taking risks, investing smart, and reaping the rewards. I’m not asking the government to hand anything out or step in to control private business.

But let’s be real—there’s a difference between capitalism and exploitation.

Take Amazon. Jeff Bezos made over $1.9 million an hour at one point. Let that sink in. One. Point. Nine. Million. An hour.

Meanwhile, warehouse workers are timing bathroom breaks and dealing with injuries in high-stress environments. How is a company raking in over $500 billion a year not paying wages that reflect that success?

This isn’t just about Amazon. Let’s talk:

• Nike: $51 billion a year. How much do the overseas workers who stitch those sneakers make?

• Walmart: Over $600 billion in revenue. And yet, many employees still qualify for government assistance.

• Apple: Trillions in value, manufacturing in China, and paying workers pennies.

• Starbucks, McDonald’s, Disney—multi-billion-dollar empires with frontline workers scraping by while executives stack bonuses.

And let’s not even start with actors and musicians raking in tens of millions per movie or tour while preaching about equity from their gated mansions.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t be rich. Hell, I hope we all make millions. But there’s a moral question here:

When is enough enough?

And how do you keep public trust when you’re living a life that feels so far removed from the people who helped build your empire?

People don’t hate the rich just because they’re rich. They hate being invisible. They hate working 40, 50, 60 hours a week and still falling behind while CEOs add another zero to their portfolio.

You can still be wildly successful without squeezing every drop out of your workers.

That’s not socialism. That’s basic humanity.

So yes—I’m a conservative. Yes—I believe in free markets.

But don’t confuse that with blind loyalty to billionaires. I believe in success with a soul.