"Down With Big Business"

So says Congressman Paul Ryan in Forbes, in an intelligent denunciation of crony capitalism.

Big businesses' frenzied political dealings are not driven by party or ideology, but rather by zero-sum thinking in which their gain must come from a competitor's loss. Erecting barriers to competition is a key to maintaining advantage and market share. With Washington leading the way, it makes sense for the big boys to redirect their resources to their lobbying shop and government affairs office. They're far less interested in expanding the economic pie than with making certain that they get their slice.

As we were discussing the other day, when people hear "capitalism" today, they think "big business." Somehow Conservatives have to articulate an argument for free markets against big business ... or at least against this kind of big business.