BCT Editorial – 1/30/07

This page was last updated on February 1, 2007.

World leader: Economic, political and personal freedoms make the United States great; Editorial; Beaver County Times; January 30, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“When it comes to letting economic freedom ring, the United States is a world leader.

“The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal have released their annual Index of Economic Freedom. The index measured 10 areas of freedom in 157 countries on a scale from zero to 100, with the latter representing ideal economic freedom.”

[RWC] In its own words, “The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.”

“When the numbers were added up, the economy of the United States was found to be 82 percent free, putting it in fourth place. It was bested by Hong Kong, No. 1, 89.3 percent; Singapore, No. 2, 85.7 percent; and Australia, No. 3, 82.7 percent. New Zealand’s economy rounded out the top five at 81.6 percent.

“The global average for economic freedom was 60.6 percent.

“For the United States, the percentages in the 10 categories were: business, 94.5 percent; trade, 76.6 percent; fiscal, 79.4 percent; freedom from government, 67.5 percent; monetary, 83.8 percent; investment, 80 percent; financial, 80 percent; property rights, 90 percent; freedom from corruption, 76 percent; and labor, 92.1 percent.

“The freedom from government category measured government spending as a portion of the gross domestic product, and it was the one in which the United States posted its lowest percentage.

“However, the United States did better than the traditional industrial nations in this category: Canada, 61.8 percent; France, 32 percent; Germany, 48 percent; Italy, 46.4 percent; Japan, 67.2 percent; and United Kingdom, 54.2 percent. (No. 3 Australia and No. 5 New Zealand were 70.1 percent and 63.6 percent respectively. Hong Kong was 91.6 percent and Singapore was 86.2 percent.)

“While the profligacy of the last six years accounts for some of the score, the United States has a mature economy, one that comes with social and fiscal obligations (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) that can’t be altered dramatically.”

[RWC] This paragraph provides both hypocrisy and BS in one package.

In the hypocrisy category is the “profligacy” comment as if the Times believes government spending is bad. Regular readers of the Times will recall editorials routinely lobby for so-called “universal” (read: taxpayer funded) healthcare, more spending on kindergarten through college education, more spending on government run bus and train companies, et cetera. At the commonwealth level, we routinely read editorials telling us we have nothing to complain about when it comes to taxes. Indeed, while most policymakers want to target slot machine taxes to reduce property taxes, in “Misplaced” the Times told us those taxes should be spent on infrastructure, some of which isn’t even a commonwealth responsibility.

In the BS category is the idea extraconstitutional spending, like Medicaid, Medicare, Socialist Security, et cetera, “can’t be altered dramatically.” This may come as a surprise to the author, but the U.S. did pretty well for the 156 years we didn’t have Socialist Security. The same is true for the 189 years we didn’t have Medicaid, Medicare, et cetera. The idea we can’t phase out these programs is nothing more than socialist propaganda.

“In addition to that, about one-sixth of federal budget goes toward defense spending. Many countries don’t have to account for that, in large part because they know the United States will protect them.”

[RWC] As a reminder, providing “for the common defence” is a constitutional responsibility. Programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Socialist Security, et cetera are not.

“Economic freedom is one leg of a three-legged stool. The other legs are political and personal freedoms. You can’t have one without the other and call yourself free. For instance, Singapore might be a terrific place to do business, but it’s not so great when it comes to political and personal freedoms.

“The United States is one of the few nations where all three freedoms ring out loud and clear. That’s what makes this such a great country. We hope Americans appreciate and understand how rare that is and are willing to commit themselves to preserving these freedoms for future generations.”

[RWC] Hmm, this comes from a newspaper that’s published at least 11 editorials supporting a government ban on smoking on private property since March 2005 and at least one editorial applauding the government taking private property from one person and giving it to another. Forgive me if I believe the editorial’s words ring hollow.