I recently read this book and want to recommend it as a "must read". I learned so much from it. Being a believer in free enterprise, I must admit my knowledge of its principles was very incomplete. This book was a succint and straightforward reckoning of the difference between free enterprise, and the big government statism advocated by our current president. If truly our country is at this crossroads, we must know what we are fighting for, and against. There is much at stake.You'll be a lot more informed and confident in the conflict if you read this book.
Some quotes from Mr. Brooks:
"Free enterprise is the system of values and laws that respects private property, encourages industry, celebrates liberty, limits government, and creates individual opportunity."
"Under free enterprise, people can pursue their own ends -- and they reap the rewards and consequences, positive and negative, of their own actions.
"More than any other system, free enterprise enables people to earn success and thereby achieve happiness. For that reason, its not just an economic alternative, but a moral imperative."
Big government/statism wants us to believe that success is not earned; it is a right. And if we do not have it, we are victims of some kind of exploitation. Our outcomes have nothing to do with merit or effort on our part.
"People who believe they have earned success -- measured in whatever life currency they want -- are happy."
Big government defines success for us -- all possessing the same amount, equal outcomes.
"If we know we have the possibility of earning success, we know we can improve our lives and our lot. That is one of the great gifts of the American free enterprise system -- the opportunity for people to re-invent themselves, to work toward a future that is better than their past. This is the American Dream."
Home ownership is NOT the American Dream. Having stuff is NOT the American Dream. The American Dream is the optimism of a better tomorrow.
"Earned success gives people a sense of meaning about their lives. And meaning is the key to human flourishing. It reassures us that what we do in life is of significance and value, for ourselves and for those around us. To truly flourish, we need to know that the ways in which we occupy our waking hours are not based on mere pursuit of pleasure or money or any other superficial goal. We need to know our endeavors have a deeper purpose."
"Free enterprise enables us to find meaningful work through free markets that match our skills and passions."
Contrast that thought with the European markets and their mandated pay, vacation, and their push to career choices made early and set in stone...They may have job security, but they have no choice to pursue their own skills and passions, and the rewards of such. Maybe that's why they riot when they find out they have to work for 2 more years before retirement...
"Successful, flourishing -happy- people are those who believe that through their own efforts they can determine their own destinies. Those who are powerless, and unable to affect what they consider important aspects of their lives, are among the most miserable people of all."
"The purpose of free enterprise is human flourishing, not materialism."
I've spent a lot of time thinking about what Mr. Brooks has written, and the value of free enterprise has become paramount to me. This will be an epic battle in our country, and we need to know what we are standing for. And, as Mr. Brooks states in the book, "We need to find a better language with which to talk about our free enterprise values." (Italics mine) If we are going to win this battle, we need to keep pointing people to the principle values behind all the talking points.
I hope this book report may have whet your appetite for this book. It is a short read -- without cumbersome economic terms...You won't regret checking it out.
Note: All blue type is direct quotations from the book. Black type: my opinion only...read the book! Mr. Brooks deserves a better look than my observations accomplish!
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