When did it become ‘cool’ to be an anti-patriot? Certain things really get under my skin and being disrespectful to the flag or to those who have fought for our country is one of them. I believe in Freedom, and freedom needs to be protected. Now that is one role of the government that I DO support. We need a military to protect and fight for those freedoms we enjoy so much. BUT, generally speaking, the government just needs to stay out of my business.
SO, I’d like to share some principles from a book called ‘The 5000 Year Leap’ written & put together by the National Center for Constitutional Studies. Simply put, this book is AWESOME! Heck, I wish it was required reading for all high school students. It’s about ‘The 28 Great Ideas That Changed the World.’
The 15th Principle, one of my favorites! The Highest Level of Prosperity Occurs when there is a Free-Market Economy and a Minimum of Government Regulations. Most of this is straight from the book.
The United States was the first people to undertake the structuring of a whole national economy on the basis of natural law and the free-market concept described by Adam Smith (who wrote a book in 1776 called The Wealth of Nations). Among other things, this formula called for the following:
1. Specialized production – let each person or corporation of persons do what they do best.
2. Exchange of goods takes place in a free-market environment without governmental interference in production, prices, or wages.
3. The free market provides the needs of the people on the basis of supply and demand, with no government imposed monopolies.
4. Prices are regulated by competition on the basis of supply and demand.
5. Profits are looked upon as the means by which production of goods and services is made worthwhile.
6. Competition is looked upon as the means by which quality is improved, quantity is increased, and prices are reduced.
The Four Laws of Economic Freedom
Prosperity also depends on a climate of wholesome stimulation protected by law. Reduced to its simplest formula, there are four laws of economic freedom which a nation must maintain if its people are to prosper at the maximum level. These are:
1. The Freedom to try.
2. The Freedom to buy.
3. The Freedom to sell.
4. The Freedom to fail.
Proper role of gov is to protect equal rights, NOT provide equal things
By 1905 the United States had become the richest industrial nation in the world. With only 5 percent of the earth’s continental land area and merely 6 percent of the world’s population, the American people were producing over half of almost everything-clothes, food, houses, transportation, communications, even luxuries. It was a great tribute to Adam Smith.
Those are the values this country was founded on. One person CAN make a difference. You can teach those around you, your family, your friends timeless principles that we need to all follow once again.
All the best,
Tim Schmidt
June 12th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Tim,
It brings a tear to my eye when, as an entirely ‘free market’ comes to mind, my initial emotion is the same as I receive when thinking of some imagined utopia. The saddest part is, the founding fathers would consider the actions in “Malon Labe” a no-brainer, while to me, it seems like a very radical and dream-like movement. Campfire lore, even.
We will always know that entrepreneurs will always thrive, whether in a free market or a Gestapo-policed Ghetto. But still…
Great post.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:45 am
The concept of mine is one of the tenants that our country is built on. Private property ownership leads us to make the decisions that increase wealth for everyone. The biggest problems with people who want to reduce freedoms is they don’t understand that wealth is not a zero sum game. If you believe that for me to get wealthy you have less, then you will never support freedom and the issues you mentioned in your post. If you believe that I can become wealthy and help you to become wealthy, then freedom is the only way to go. A free market exchange goes this way. I have $20. You have a product. I give you the $20 for your product because it is worth MORE than $20 to me. You give me the product because it is worth LESS than $20 to you. Now we have BOTH increased our wealth.
Government involvement works the other way. It destroys wealth every time it gets involved. It removes choice and adds unneeded layers into the system.
Want to know why many people are scared of freedom and want more government? Freedom is messy and takes work to be successful. Many people would rather everyone be at the same level even if it is in poverty so they won’t feel bad about themselves.
Freedom takes work. It takes effort. It takes brave men willing to stand up for what they believe. Keep on posting the truth Tim. I always enjoy your posts and will be ordering that book soon.
Scott
June 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Yes our freedoms are under attack.I have yet to see anyone that our elected politicians really give credence to.They get elected by saying one thing then doing the opposite.The american people do not make our elected officials responsable.The laws passed by our Congress and senate reads more like it comes from the politburo of mother russia.Our politicians are more left of center and are very pleased with themselves for it.The average american relies too heavily on the solving everyday things that a normal adult should take care of themselves.Take a look at the recent bailout enough said,we reward failure.If it was you or I,we would not get any help.Let the chips fall where they may.You can put a frog in water and very slowly raise the heat,before the sucker figures it out he’s cooked. I think we may be the frog.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
WELL SAID, Tim!
As a fellow patriot and business owner, I cherish our freedom.
I abhor the notion espoused by many national leaders who think plunging headlong down the slippery slope of socialism is the way to go. Marxists and Czars had their shot…and they failed miserably!
We need to fire those who defile their Oaths of Office by violating the Constitution. Where in the Constitution does it say the President of the United States has the authority to fire the CEO of a major corporation? We also need to put the rest of our elected employees on notice that their welfare and their jobs depend on obeying the will of We The People.
Jeff