Economic Freedom and Political Freedom

From Civicwiki
Revision as of 14:49, 1 November 2014 by Jeff (talk | contribs)$7

Jump to: navigation, search


Let's play a game

Before we get into the article: We'll set up a scenario of two alternatives and you vote twice for which you would prefer to live in - once now and once after reading through the article. We expect the article will change few votes, but it seems an interesting thought exercise nonetheless. We don't have a convenient way for you to record your votes. 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 voted.

Here is the scenario: The United States splits into two countries - the U.S. as it is today (as-is), and a new U.S. that adheres to a policy of maximum economic freedom. The focus in this game is on economic freedom with political freedom playing a supporting role only as needed. We haven't yet defined economic freedom is, but you likely have an idea what it means. Use that for the time being. Don't try to think about how it splits geographically. That is unimportant to the game.

The as-is US:

  • The starting point is a snapshot taken in the fall of 2014 about the time of the 2014 mid-term election. (As this is written, the results of the election are unknown and shouldn't matter to the game.)

Now we'll get on with the article.


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 (who considers intellectual pursuit on a higher plane) and seldom by the working middle class or most other folks.


The premises embedded in this article are long held views of the CW sponsors. However, many of the ideas in the writing of the article have 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 may conclude that we are influenced more my some than by others, or positively by some and negatively by others. We state that we are influenced by a reverence for freedom of individuals. Our starting point is that freedom is a virtue to be strived for and use the writings of the referenced authors accordingly. Our definition of freedom is presented in the article: Freedom


Retrieved from "http://civicwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Economic_Freedom_and_Political_Freedom&oldid=1838"