So-called “crony capitalism” (Big Business + Big Government) isn’t merely a threat to the taxpayers’ pocketbook, it is a danger to freedom itself.

It’s really saddening, therefore, when even the most perceptive opponents of “crony capitalism” only get it half right.

In the middle of an article condemning the sweetheart deals struck in a menage a trois among the Boeing corporation, the big unions, and a government entity (the Export-Import Bank), a commentator from Americans for Limited Government (ALG) somehow finds it in his heart to absolve Boeing from its unquestioned culpability in the affair:

Government intervention is the underlying problem — and we should not expect Boeing (or any other company) to sacrifice its fiduciary responsibility to shareholders on account of a broader allegiance to taxpayers. — Howard Rich, “Big Government Is Making Boeing a Bad Actor”, NetRightDaily, April 9, 2012.

Let’s examine that sentence:

(1) “Government intervention is the underlying problem …” — Only the most obtuse can deny that when government butts in everything goes wonky. But even more fundamental is the greed factor, which seems to muzzle any protestations about how unfair, unconstitutional, and unrighteous the whole situation is.

(2) “… and we should not expect Boeing (or any other company) to sacrifice its fiduciary responsibility to shareholders …” — Granted, corporations are in business to make money, which is ordinarily an honorable pursuit. But when government intervenes with an unconstitutional and, let’s face it, immoral sweetheart deal, the corporate higher ups should be blowing the whistle instead of becoming co-conspirators in a crime against America’s citizenry.

(3) “… on account of a broader allegiance to taxpayers.” — So Mr. Rich is arguing that when it comes to profit or patriotism, profit takes priority. It’s thinking like that which has resulted in open borders, massive outsourcing of American jobs, widespread domestic unrest, and a foreign policy that perpetuates a warfare state mentality.

Whether or not he meant to, Mr. Rich has made excuses for one third of the bad actors in the daily melodrama that is today’s Leviathan state: corporate welfare queens, socialistic unions, and big government bureaucracy.

If the people who run large corporations had any moral sense, they would resist any and all government enticements.

That might not stop the unchecked expansion of government all by itself, but it would be a good start.