|
|
|
Almost every Act of Congress brings America under more government control. Our society is rapidly exchanging liberty for more and more entitlements, and too many people now rely on the government rather than themselves to improve their lives. This trend toward socialism can, however, be reversed, argues conservative U.S. Senator Jim DeMint. Saving Freedom provides a clear explanation of the principles of capitalism. Saving Freedom begins with the story of the Gingerbread Man, who evaded capture until he came to the river and accepted the fox's offer to take him across. He tried to stay away from the fox's mouth, but as the waters rose, he had to come closer, until finally the fox ate him. This story is a metaphor for America. We began by valuing liberty above all else, but we increasingly have lost confidence in our ability to succeed without major help from the government. DeMint believes that the rich have the obligation to share resources with the poor, but that charity works more effectively when managed by churches and private groups. The federal government's debt is growing every year because we expand so many programs. Socialism promises to spread the wealth, but it actually spreads poverty and imposes the costs on future generations. We all recognize that freedom is a good thing, but too many Americans now confuse the blessings of freedom (opportunity and prosperity) with the substance of freedom. The blessings of freedom can only be achieved if all citizens exercise self-control and share community responsibilities. "Freedom is in fact a 'discipline' which must be continuously pursued to be achieved and preserved," and the government can't do it for us. DeMint devotes a particularly interesting section of the book to the ways that Christianity historically fostered individualism and democracy. Christianity differed from the religions that surrounded it in that it embraced reason as part of religious faith. As Western civilization grew more Christian, this respect for reason led to improvements in science and commerce and to strong concepts of individualism consistent with doctrines of free will and human dignity in the eyes of God. DeMint explains that Asian religions never allowed a similar expansion to take place. As individuals and as a country, DeMint believes that we can save our freedom only if we respect the Constitution and take responsibility for our own future rather than expecting government to solve our problems. (B & H Publishing Group, 2009 314 pp., $26.99) |
This insightful read is sure to resonate with conservatives and provide liberals with food for thought.
