Kerby Anderson

The recent election is another reminder that Americans still value their culture of free enterprise that was established by the founders of this country. Arthur Brooks (American Enterprise Institute) comes to this conclusion in his book, The Battle. The founders promoted a free market where Americans were able to enjoy their political and economic liberty. Thomas Jefferson famously said this in his first inaugural address. “A wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government.” People from other countries began to realize how exceptional America’s culture of free enterprise was. French nobleman Alexis de Tocqueville called Americans “the freest people in the world.” During his time in America he was struck by the fact that Americans pursued their interests under the supervision of limited government and banded together in voluntary associations. Arthur Brooks contends that we live in a 70-30 nation. A Pew Research Center poll asked a broad range of Americans this question: “Generally, do you think people are better off in a free market economy, even though there may be severe ups and downs from time to time, or don’t you think so?” Almost 70 percent of respondents agree that they are better off in a free market economy. The good news is that 70 percent of Americans believe in free enterprise. The bad news is that the other 30 percent are in control of important arenas in our society such as the academy, media, and government. This leads to the subtitle of the book by Arthur Brooks that says, “How the fight between free enterprise and big government will shape America’s future.” Donald Trump and the new Congress have an opportunity to slow the growth of big government. We the people have the responsibility to hold them to it.