American exceptionalism is the idea that the United States and the American people
hold a special place in the world, by offering opportunity and hope for humanity, derived
from a unique balance of public and private interests governed by constitutional ideals
that are focused on personal and economic freedom.
https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/American_exceptionalism
(Links to an external site.)
Nobel Laurate Milton Friedman laid out the case that America is exceptional. The
adoption of a free market capitalist economic system which leaves all people Free to
Choose to engage in mutually beneficial voluntary exchange has created extraordinary
and historically unprecedented wealth and has distributed that wealth equitably among
the whole population.
Inherent in free market capitalism is a maximum personal liberty ethos where the
government does not coerce or use financial incentives to modify people’s behavior or
belief systems. Being Free to Choose means not only being free to buy, sell and
consume what you want but, also, the right to work at a profession of your choice, live
where you want, marry whomever you wish, raise your kids as you desire, own a gun if
you wish, practice the religion of your choice, say what you wish and vote and advocate
for the people and government policies you support.
Friedman argues that economic and personal freedom are linked. One produces the
other and, without one, you cannot have the other. Economic freedom (capitalism and
free markets) creates and equitably distributes wealth and puts the ability to protect
freedom, both political and economic, in the hands of ordinary people.
With disposable income, ordinary people can fight government predation on their
economic welfare and restriction of their personal freedom. In the vast majority of cases,
this is done non-violently by voting for and financially supporting amenable political
candidates, but, historically, the fight has infrequently involved violence, e.g. the Civil
War which was fought to end slavery and, to a lesser extent, the Civil Rights Movement
which guaranteed equal rights for blacks. Without economic freedom, ordinary people
would not have the resources or ability to protect their economic and personal freedom
and their economic and political freedom would not survive.
Hernando DeSoto, in The Mystery of Capital, identified two aspects of being Free to
Choose, the Rule of Law and Strong Personal Property Rights (including clear and
transferrable title to property) which are necessary and required conditions for a
capitalist free market system to work.
Stephen Moore, in Trumponomics: Inside America First Plan to Revive Our Economy,
explained how a political candidate’s platform can revolve around the idea of limiting
government laws and regulations which reduce personal and economic freedom and
limiting and reducing confiscatory taxes.
Richard McGregor, in The Party, The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers,
describes an alternative to a free market capitalist system, a socialist/communist system
where there is no political or personal freedom and with limited economic freedom.
Communist China is a dictatorship where personal and economic freedoms do not exist
or are proscribed. The Communist Party exercises absolute control over all aspects of
people’s lives including how many children a woman may have, what religion may be
practiced, where you live, what job you can have, what education you can receive, what
goods you can buy, sell, and consume and, of course, what views can be espoused and
what leader you prefer. Any challenge to the Communist Party dictatorship is met with
severe consequences including confiscation of your property, public humiliation,
internment in a concentration camp or the disappearance of you and your family. Under
this alternative to a free market capitalist system, Communist China has gone from
abject poverty to a per capita income comparable to Mexico .
Consider 3 people and how they would fare under the United States free market
capitalist system vs. the Socialist/Communist system in Communist China.
- Clarence Thomas, a member of a historically disadvantaged racial minority
who started off life poor and with no advantages (watch the movie Created
Equal: Clarence Thomas in his Own Words (Links to an external site.) - Fan Fan Bing Bing and Jack Ma, rich and famous but not politically powerful
residents of Communist China (refer to the articles in the Homework-The
Party, The Secret World of China’s Communist Rulers or do an internet
search for information). - Yourself, a young person with your life ahead of you.
What are advantages/disadvantages and consequences of being born in the USA
vs. Communist China for each of these 3 people?
Which system is better or worse for which person?
Discuss your opinions for each of the 3 people in light of the economic principles
presented in the class.
Your paper should be 1500 words and use MLA formatting.
- link will be provided to the
assigned writer)
