On NFL Referees and Owner Lock-Outs I'd Like to See

From a Capitalist perspective, even CEOs are workers

It's a sign of the times that labor disputes often collapse not into strikes but owner lock-outs.  Capitalists have surely taken the upper hand. 

Or have they?

Regardless of whether workers walk off or owners lock them out, consumers still have a decisive say in these matters.  If, for instance, NFL replacement refs had performed their function without too much fan (i.e. consumer) complaint, locked-out refs would have lost their bargaining power (and perhaps their jobs) while owners would have increased profits.

Alas for the owners, NFL consumers were none too pleased with "scab" refs who seemed at times baffled by the speed of the game and subtleties of the rules.  Score one for the workers, and I'll add, Capitalism itself where the market is supposed to rule.

Sadly, it seems to me, hard-nosed Capitalist battles tend to be fought in these most trivial of pursuits- sports (don't get me wrong, I love sports, still play men's league ice hockey and really want my NHL).  By trivial I refer to the product sold, which doesn't directly add anything to national goods supply (yes there are indirect, likely not insubstantial, effects).  Consider the NHL or early season NBA.  Consumers of these products weren't starving for anything other than entertainment.

I'd love to see these hard-nosed Capitalist battles taking place in less trivial pursuits.  I'd love to see Roger Goodell named as Commissionner of the new National Banking League (NBL).  His take no prisoners and let the market sort it out approach seems to me just the sort of thing a true Capitalist (and these bankers sure love to talk about being epitomes thereof) would appreciate.

C'mon bank owners, hire someone who would really fight for YOU for you are indeed on the endangered species list.

Mr. Goodell would likely find the recent shrinkage of the NBL distressing (remember those two great teams of yore, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers) and would be seeking expansion, rather than contraction.  Given the harsh penalties given to New Orleans Saints' management over Bountygate, I'd love to let him sink his teeth into say, the LIBOR scandal.  Further, in the same way that Mr. Goodell has locked out players and refs, he could lock out senior bankers/traders who warn of economic collapse if their bonuses and salaries aren't paid. Heck, we could have a salary cap for bankers!

Let the market sort things out!

Goodell for NBL Commissionner!

Funny thing is, I'm pretty sure the replacement bankers would do a far better job than the replacement refs.  After all, the current bankers have botched things up far worse than the Seattle-Green Bay game, don't you think?

Oh, well, a man can dream.

Kidding aside, US financial problems are not an effect of too much capitalism, but too little- active owners seeking to maximize profits are necessary.