An Opportunity for Change

The current economic situation presents a great opportunity for yielding a very positive outcome --- a resurgence of economic freedom. While much of the current economic and political agendas are merely more of the same, that is a Marxist and Keynesian approach to solve an economic collapse - no less brought on by much of the same government intervention - there does exist a real opportunity for pushing forward free-market ideas. We can either choose to adapt to ways that provide the best paths for equality and prosperity or instead opt for political rhetoric dressed in failed socialistic ideas.

I will certainly admit that my view is of pure optimism - given the current political environment, however, I feel very confident in suggesting that economic times such as the current is ideal for teaching the truth about economic freedom and its correlation to liberty for all. Just as the bust in business cycles serves to rid the market of malinvestments, now is the time to reverse the tide of economic thought and policy and move in the direction of economic freedom.

As economics remains the topic Du Jour more attention is paid by the masses. With the ongoing talk and clamor, ad nauseum, regarding more bailouts, market failures, recessions, inflation, deflation, socialism, nationalism, protectionism, energy independence, car czars, government interventionism, government debt, and so on – the U.S citizenry now appears poised for truth. During robust times, however, many seem to turn a blind eye to the very principals and economic foundation that has allowed so many to obtain such a high standard of living. Herein lays the great opportunity to ameliorate the understanding by the masses; we must persevere to ensure the connection between economic freedom and liberty is fully comprehended.

While these very truths, prevalent in securing equality and prosperity, have been used before as weapons in the battle of ideas, again more than ever need echoing. Equality of opportunity over equality of outcome; rights to private property and voluntary exchange; free markets and trade; the elimination of government intervention into markets; the removal of pressure groups and government means for confiscation of private wealth (i.e. inflationary policy); and the installation of laissez faire capitalism.

As Ayn Rand had so well stated: “Is there any hope for the future of this country? Yes, there is. This country has one asset left: the matchless productive ability of its people. If, and to the extent that, this ability is liberated, we might still have a chance to avoid collapse. We cannot expect to reach the ideal overnight, but we must at least reveal its name. We must reveal to this country the secret which all those posturing intellectuals of any political denomination, who clamor for openness and truth, are trying so hard to cover up: that the name of that miraculous productive system is Capitalism.”