This year we celebrate two 250th birthdays, both inextricably linked.
The first is of course America, birthed from an idea that free people could govern themselves.
The second is the case for free markets, birthed by Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations,” which was published in 1776.
It turns out that free people and free markets go hand in hand. Both are experiments that have been unbelievably successful, providing hope throughout the world and bringing previously unimaginable prosperity and quality of life to countless people.
Both have stood the test of time by surviving many serious threats.
But we might be facing another challenging moment now.
The country is governed by two parties who increasingly have nothing in common. At our best we used to share problems and argue over solutions; now we don’t even agree on the problems. The only thing we seem to be able to agree on is that too many Americans are getting screwed – unfortunately we think the other side is the reason why.
It’s tearing us apart.
Sadly, both sides are turning to revolutionary rhetoric (“abolish” or “retribution”) that strangely involves more government, and it’s ugly.
On one side is an ascendant group on the left inspired by, or flat out affiliated with, the German philosopher Karl Marx.
On the right is a group that professes to hate Marxism but at times embraces Marxist ideas and seems infatuated with dictators and strongmen.
Both hate each other. Both are uncompromising. Both lack decorum, and both in their own ways seek to tear down the guardrails keeping America afloat, even if they don’t think that’s what they’re doing.
Marxist and authoritarian rule are nothing to emulate. The death toll from both is staggering, as is the endless trail of human suffering.
But you know what is worth emulating? American ideals. Free markets and free people.
Our founders envisioned limited government, with checks and balances between executive, judicial and legislative branches. They were not coequal, as is sometimes said, because Congress was unquestionably granted the most power. Now Congress, the branch closest to the people, is the weakest of the three, and power is as far from the people as it’s ever been. No wonder people feel powerless.
Our founders also believed in private property and a free exchange of goods and services. This belief was applied in the most evil ways at times, but even still it has led America to be the most prosperous and free nation.
Free and prosperous people don’t tend to attack each other. It’s when people aren’t free and aren’t prosperous that they lash out, seeking both.
So, the price of our prosperity is an obligation to care for those who’ve fallen behind and a commitment to come together in compromise for the good of the union.
How we pay that price is up to us.
The case is straightforward. The more power seized at the top leaves less freedom for the average citizen. And the more intervention in free markets by a government means less prosperity to go around.
Experiments in central control were tested in the 20th century, and we saw how that turned out: breadlines and massacres.
And it’s back, wearing friendlier clothes, but similar impulses.
On the left, it’s wealth taxes, government-run healthcare, and price controls. On the right, it’s taxation through tariffs, militarized streets, and public ownership of private companies. And both suffer from politicians using office to enrich themselves and government harassment of opponents.
Either way, the government is in control.
Both are convinced things would be better with them in charge, and then they get in charge and show that by “better” they only meant better for themselves.
The good news is that no one seems happy, which means there’s a way out.
What worked once can work again: to resist rule from above – in politics and economics.
There’s no better time than a semiquincentennial to make a choice.
Let’s choose free people and free markets and get there together.
Matt Fleming is a columnist for the Southern California News Group.