By Jay Davidson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Both good and evil ideas start with a vision. That vision promises to solve a problem we have. Politicians fit the same mold. How to differentiate, how do we tell if a vision is good or evil?
And if evil sounds good in the beginning, what shall guide us to choose the right path? These issues have perplexed philosophers since the beginning of time. Each person must decide for himself; fortunately, many great thinkers have pondered these profound ideas and many have written their revelations into books or carried them through the spoken word.
Although the knowledge is readily available, it seems our Creator wants us each to find the answer to that question in our lifetime. The fact that our Creator wants each person to seek this answer gives rise to the fact that our Creator recognizes our individual nature and bestows certain rights upon each of us individually. This is the beginning of our nation, as expressed first in the Declaration of Independence.
The Torah, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Kabbalah, Confucius, the Stoics, Ancient Greek philosophers and many more speak to this profound issue. Our questions contain the answer.
We must judge the idea by its outcome, the consequences of its actions, through studying its history. Each act contains consequence. So, to take an idea or vision on its surface is foolhardy and dangerous. We are required to look more deeply into the consequences of that act.
Therefore, the question becomes: Does this vision lead to the reason we were endowed with our individual nature, or does it enslave us? This one question answers the confusion surrounding our existence in this life.
Let’s apply it to an example. For instance, Communism and Socialism. On the surface, Engels, Lenin and Marx envisioned a future that helped the common man. Their mantra is the concept that all men are created equal (and they are) but the outcome is that this concept should be enforced by a greater entity. Unfortunately that greater entity was central-controlling politburos. Government or monarchy, what’s the difference? It’s still a controlling entity.
Communism uses euphemisms like together, collectivist, equity, nice concepts that fit our religious and moral heritage of noble cause. But look at the outcome, not surface rhetoric. Communism and Socialism lead inexorably to control. They lead us away from individual freedom and liberty.
There is one economic system that fits the concept of individual freedom and the right to choose. That adheres to the concept upon which our nation was founded: The sanctity of the individual. That system is subsumed by the concept of Fair Trade: Willing buyer, willing seller, without outside coercion. In other words, Capitalism.
Capitalism fits the founding concept of an individual and free choice. However, in order to function, Capitalism must be free from federal restrictions, except the Rule of Law. Rule by regulation is just control by a bureaucrat in the Administration. As such, it bestows unwarranted power upon the office of the President.
Capitalism is the exact opposite of Cronyism. Cronyism is the unholy alliance of public and private entities to stifle competition. Cronyism uses the power of government to restrict free choice. This is the nature of our economy today. In other words, the Left is correct in one sense: the economic system is rigged. Ironic that they complain about what they have done since President Wilson (D) created the bureaucratic monster that rules our lives today. To be fair, the Republicans, especially those who support big government, are no better.
Let’s apply our Principle (all men are endowed with life, liberty and ownership) to the current state of our confusion. The differentiation is not R or D; the only choices are control through big government or individual freedom. Don’t take anything on its surface; look more deeply into the consequences of its actions, and decide if it leads to freedom or enslavement.
Jay Davidson is founder and CEO of a commercial bank, a student of the Austrian School of Economics, and a dedicated capitalist. He believes that there is a direct connection joining individual right and responsibility, our Constitution, capitalism, and the intent of our Creator.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.