AEI on the Moral Defense of Free Enterprise

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, today gave a speech to the Washington Lawyers' Chapter of the Federalist Society, on the moral justification for the free enterprise system. His bio is here.  He is a great speaker and gave a great defense for free enterprise, pointing out that convincing people of the virtues of "efficiency" and "liberty" are not sufficient to win their hearts -- they must be convinced that free enterprise is right and fair.  Free enterprise, of course, does more, and has done more, to lift millions out of poverty than any government program or statist economic regime, and because it most benefits the poor it is the just economic system that everyone should embrace and support.  He also points out, correctly in my view, that obtaining support for such a fundamental change takes decades, not a single election.  I have a feeling we are going to be hearing a lot more from Mr. Brooks in the years ahead.  I would be thrilled if he played a major role in economic policy in the next presidential administration.