Like the full-length mirror in my bedroom that beckons me to inspect and fix how I’m dressed, humor often functions as society's first mirror. It invites us to inspect and fix our flaws. And who doesn't like a good joke . . . until it's about us and our flaws, right?

In the spirit of inviting us all to reflect on and fix capitalism's flaws, here are some current memes and jokes to get started. We, collectively, are capitalism after all, and therefore the ones to fix its flaws.

I'm pretty sure it was George Orwell who wrote somewhere, "Every joke is a tiny revolution." Viva La Revolution!

First the memes

Now the jokes

What do my super-model girlfriend and ethical capitalism have in common?

Both are my imagination.

*****

Capitalism in one easy lesson:

Two man are locked in a room. There is a cake in the middle of it. The first one thinks: "I now have two options:

1. I take half of the cake and the other half is for that other guy.

2. I kill that other guy and have the cake all by myself." He goes for the second option and kills the other man.

Then he starts eating the cake. After he's halfway through, he says: "Ugh. I'm stuffed. Can't eat another bite."

*****

Q: What's the difference between capitalism and communism?

A: Under capitalism, Man exploits Man. Under communism, it is exactly the opposite.

*****

Q: What do capitalism and communism have in common?

A: Starving poor people.

*****

Explaining traditional capitalism:

• You have two cows.

• You sell one and buy a bull.

• Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows.

• You sell them and retire on the income.

Explaining America’s (Venture) capitalism:

• You have two cows.

• You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows.

• The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company.

• The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.

• You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States , leaving you with nine cows.

• No balance sheet provided with the release.

• The public then buys your bull.

Explaining American (Corporate) capitalism:

• You have two cows.

• You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.

• Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead.

 *****

Capitalism is like the lottery.

Everybody believes they will win, but only a few do.

*****

After the fall of the Soviet Union, two Russian friends meet and one tells the other, “You know what? Everything they told us about socialism and communism was a lie.” His friend replies, “You’re right. And you know what's even worse? Everything they told us about capitalism is true.”

*****

I don't have punchline to my opening paragraphs because they weren't a setup to a joke. But I do have a two-part ask. First, reflect on which of these memes and/or jokes held up a mirror for you and elicited the strongest reactions. Were those belly laughs or groans, or did you get pissed? Think about it. Why?

Second, whatever your reflection and realization to your reaction, take that new realization and use it to do something in your corner of the world to improve how capitalism operates. We each owe it to ourselves, each other, and those coming in behind us to create a better capitalism. Thanks!

[Thanks to BoredPanda.com for the memes and upjoke.com for the jokes.]

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