Capitalism, Incentive, and the Victim Mentality Trap (My Reaction to PBD’s 1 vs 20 Debate)
On the latest episode of The King’s Code, I react to Patrick Bet-David’s Jubilee debate against 20 anti-capitalists. His core claim: Incentive is the engine of capitalism. Remove it, and the system fails. I agree—and it’s deeply personal for me.
I came to America when I was 11. My 20s and 30s were nothing but work: long days, longer nights, failures, pivots, and eventually multiple successful businesses. I love this country. I love capitalism. Not because it’s perfect, but because it rewards responsibility and gives you the freedom to reinvent yourself if you’re willing to pay the price.
In the debate, I heard the same two stories we all wrestle with:
The Victim Mindset: “Life is rigged, other people are greedy, I can’t get ahead.”
Taking Extreme Ownership: “Life is hard, but I can increase my market value, learn skills, and choose my response.”
I’m not diminishing pain or pretending everyone starts at the same line. Many don’t. But I’ve watched men move from survival → discovery → transformation → legacy the moment they stop arguing with reality and start leading themselves.
A few points I make in the reaction:
1) Incentives aren’t the enemy—misaligned incentives are.
People work from different motives: survival, status, freedom, legacy. Capitalism lets you translate value into outcomes. If your outcomes aren’t changing, change the value you bring. Upskill. Switch vehicles. Raise your standard.
2) Blue-collar opportunities are there for the taking.
Trades today can out-earn many white-collar paths. With an entrepreneurial mindset, plumbers/electricians/HVAC owners can blow up their earning power. AI isn’t replacing them anytime soon. Don’t talk down to the people who keep the country running.
3) On history and guardrails.
Yes—unregulated capitalism has produced horrors in the past. So has communism and every other system when power goes unchecked. The point isn’t that capitalism is perfect; it’s that in America, with guardrails, it’s still the best engine for mobility. Millions vote with their feet to come here for a reason: The freedom to pursue happiness. Not to be given it, but to pursue it.
4) “It’s the system” vs. “It’s me.”
Both matter. Systems should improve—education should teach money, taxes, compounding interest, entrepreneurship, etc. But while we push for better systems, lead your life now. If you spend hours streaming, you can redeploy some of that time to master a skill, sell, or build a side business. There is zero upside in complaining; all the upside comes when you take ownership.
5) Entitlement repels; responsibility attracts.
In the episode, we watched people literally talk themselves out of opportunities they claimed to want. Patrick offered one participant a job on the spot, and he shuffled his feet and said he’d think about it. I’ve hired, trained, and coached for years. The throughline of every turnaround is the same: coachability + ownership + reps. The throughline of every stall is also the same: entitlement + excuses + avoidance.
My story is simple:
I wasn’t “supposed” to be here by any statistic. I watched my parents pay the price, so I paid it too. Pain was my teacher. Capitalism was the arena. Entrepreneurship is war. Leadership was the difference.
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur to lead. But you do have to stop outsourcing your future. The market is a mirror. It reflects back the value, consistency, and courage you bring—over time.
If you think capitalism is evil, watch the debate—and my breakdown—before you double down on that belief. If you love capitalism, watch anyway and sharpen your arguments. Either way, trade the victim story for the ownership story and see what happens in 6–12 months.
If the message resonates, share it with someone who’s stuck in survival mode. And if you’re ready to stop negotiating with life and start building with purpose, step into rooms that demand your best.
The best is yet to come—if you’re willing to lead.
