Economic Freedom and Political Freedom

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Is it possible that economic freedom and political freedom can exist in isolation from one another in the sense that any political arrangement can be coupled with any economic system? It is believed so by some, and usually by two types:

  1. "Socialist democrats" believe that a state run, centrally planned economy can be run by a government that guarantees individual freedom through political policy; and
  2. Totalitarian governments who seem to believe that, by allowing a limited amount of economic freedom, that their population will be sufficiently comfortable to endure single authority rule.

Those who believe in the first of these usually consider "material" considerations to be beneath them and of little importance. Such a view is often held by the intellectual class and seldom by the working middle class.

Let's play a game

Let's play a game in this article. We'll set up a scenario and you vote twice - once now and once after reading through the rest of the article. We expect this article will change a few votes only, but it seems an interesting exercise nonetheless. We don't have a convenient way to record the votes, so it is just a question to ask yourself. But, if you are so inclined, you can leave a comment on the "Discussion" page for this article by clicking on the tab at the top of the article to tell us how you vote. Here is the scenario. The United States splits into two countries - the U.S. as it is, and a new U.S. that adheres to a policy of maximum economic freedom. The focus here is on economic freedom with political freedom playing a supporting role only and only as required.

  • In the as-is U.S.,


The premises embedded in this article are long held views of the CW sponsors. The writing has been guided by the writings of a few economist / social scientist thinkers - primarily: [Milton Friedman], [F.A. Hayek], [Charles Murray], [George Gilder], [John Kenneth Galbraith] and [John Maynard Keynes]. References are provided in some instances. But some supporting arguments are taken from these authors without providing specific reference. We admit to freely and frequently using their ideas and arguments. CW claims no economic expertise of a technical nature.

The reader will conclude that we are most influenced by the 1st four listed above. We claim that we are influenced solely by a reverence for freedom of individuals and parse ideas we encounter on how they serve that cause.



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