The Dark Knight Rises: Capitalism a love story (sorry Mike Moore)

The Dark Knight Rises: Capitalism a love story (sorry Mike Moore).

Batman, The Dark Knight Rises

How The Dark Knight Rises loves Capitalism and the fight against the cults of socialism and ecomentalism.

If you haven’t yet seen The Dark Knight Rises, then beware; for as they say in the classics “spoiler alert”.

The Uncommonwealth team are not usually comic book, sorry “Graphic Novel” fans, but I for one have come to love Batman. Not the super camp Adam West, nor the charming but cheesy world of Tim Burton and Michael Keaton. I am talking about Christian Bale’s tormented industrialist in Christopher Nolan’s latest incarnation. But how is Batman a symbol? Let’s consider the facts:

Batman is not a superhero. He was not bitten by a spider, born in outer space or visited by aliens. Whilst he was born into riches, he had to go out and earn his not-so-super-powers himself. He makes use of intellect, detective skills, science and technology, wealth, physical prowess, martial arts skills, and an indomitable will. You can’t inherit sidekicks or a six pack you have to work for those. And the bat-suit and the bat-mobile are the result of investment, innovation and reward for effort (I love Lucius Fox, but just like Morgan Freeman who portrays him, I don’t think he is working for Wayne Enterprises for free)

Lesson #1. Success comes through hard work, not from fairy dust nor a gift from some benevolent organisation.

Batman respects society. Even as a vigilante, he recognises that the city is best served by a productive and safe society with reward for effort and respect for individual property rights. Which brings us…

Lesson #2. Society requires respect for others and property rights.

Batman has self-doubt. Just like western society. Wayne has internal dissonance and angst. Even when he has to undertake acts of violence or damage to property he is aware that this has an impact on the moral order (hence his reluctance to kill). Even in the midst of moral decay he is aware of an objective right and wrong. Unlike his opponents. His enemies use his virtues against him. Bane never has a moment of self-doubt. Bane and his minions are filled with certainty and a reforming, implacable zeal. There is a greater good and the end always justifies the means. Capitalism weighs risk, rewards effort and is never absolutely certain. Have you spoken to a lefty recently?

Lesson #3. Capitalists question everything. Socialists think they know everything.

Completely mistrustful of the market system, the green character, Miranda, interferes in the system’s ability to bring newer and better energy sources to market. Nolan strips bare the true philosophy of the green movement:  The earth is sick, man caused it, humanity must be punished to atone for its sins.

Catholic’s give up pleasures for lent and meat on Fridays. The green movement asks us to endure less hot water, turn out the lights and give up our wicked automobiles.  Gotham’s sins are never clearly spelled out. But they have something to do with consumption and excess. Just like the green movement, Bane and Miranda (Talia al Ghul) have appropriated the language of traditional Christianity and its doctrine of original sin. The things which have extended our lives, freed billions from toil and servitude and eased our suffering are now the very things we are asked to reject. Electricity, medical science, refrigeration, mass transport, even the humble plastic bag which carries our sustenance and binds our landfill are now evil. This insidious new religion believes less is less. And just like the Abrahamic God of the Old Testament who seeks to cleanse mankind by flooding the earth, Miranda and Bane will cleanse Gotham with fire. Bruce Wayne revels in the fruits of human progress. He spends his profits in philanthropic endeavour. He pushes the limits of science and technology to serve and protect.   And he uses capital, science and human inspiration to seek solutions to the earth’s problems.

Lesson #4. Capitalism has been the driving force that has enabled freedom, progress and longevity. Ecomentalists believe that there is something wrong with the human race.

Occupy Gotham. Probably the single most literal composition in the movie. A motly crew of the dispossessed, the confused and the criminal led by a hard core element of radicals and anarchists. The poor mass of prols in the Occupy Gotham movement are unaware of the real intent of the single minded bolshies who take on the establishment. Even someone who earns their crust nicking other people’s stuff looks agog when the masses storm posh apartments to try and redistribute a bit of bubbly. BTW – snaps to Anne Hathaway who is stunning as catwoman. There is no philosophical point, she’s just downright hot.

I cannot surpass the sentiment of Margaret Thatcher. Occupy Gotham looks at their modest means and envies the decadence of the rich. But whilst anarchy and socialism do close the gap they make the rich poor and the poor poorer. It is not long before we see the kangaroo courts and misery of Orwell’s animal farm.

Lesson #5. Closing the gap is easy – when no one has anything there is no gap.

Batman has a motely collection of non-conformists around him. There is no ‘bat uniform’. Compare that to the league of shadows who are obsessed with their shabby chic, or a la Zoolander derelict. People stand up to Bruce Wayne, his ‘side’ is a festival of dissent and a free market for ideas. Even the domestic staff feel free to chide him for his life choices! Recall what happens to Bane’s henchmen when they question company policy? Too harsh? Think of the vicious reaction to David Mamet and Cartoonist Bill Leak when they eschewed the politics of the left. Four legs good, two legs bad.

Lesson #6 Capitalism reward independent thought.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. But I for one am quite willing to invest in Wayne Industries. Suppliers of military industrial technology, freedom and western democracy.

Batman - Patron of Capitalism