Free-Market means free individual

 I know a few people who are not "real big proponents" (to say the least) of the free market system. "Capitalism is just an unfair system where the rich exploit the poor" they say. As far as I'm concerned, this is about as true as saying "socialism is just an unfair system where the lazy exploit the hard-working." Both arguments are straw man arguments. Capitalism is not the exploitation of the poor, although that tragically has occurred before. The same is true for socialism. Lazy exploiting the hard-working is a loophole within the system, not the system itself.

 I am a clear proponent of the free-market system. I mean, CLEAR PROPONENT. Against minimum wage. Against anti-trust laws. Against unions. Against OSHA. Against permitting and liscence offices. Like I said, clear proponent.

 I understand the objection, however, that the rich seem to get richer and the poor seem to get poorer. This does seem, at times, to feel like it's the case. It's a myth, however, to say that the socialist system accomplishes national wealth. A look at history will demonstrate that that has never once occurred. Why people believe "the next time will be different" is lost on me, and I fear I will not come to understand it anytime soon. Even local and recent examples can show us this. Many of the poorest states in America are ardently modern liberal/democrat, and yet have remain every bit as poor as when they starting hoping liberalism could change things.

 I must admit that capitalists do not do a very good job at explaining how capitalism is the ladder out of poverty, instead of the pit that keeps them stuck. One of the great things about capitalism is that innovation is always available to you, and your hard work to accomplish it will be rewarded in the capitalist system. Hard work, sacrifice, and innovation pay off in a free market. Not so, in a social welfare system.

 But my commitment to free market is not essentially about reward for hard work. It's about personal liberty. The free market allows you to do things your way. You do not need the government to tell you how a business should be run, nor do you need the government to tell you which business you need to work in. In a free market, an individual has the right to self-govern his work, and he has the right to self-govern his purchases. This, I believe, is most in keeping with our constitution, and most in keeping with the beliefs of our founding fathers.

 And, by the way, when did the people surrender the right to regulate business to the government? I don't remember any amendments that granted those powers to the government..... perhaps they just took them from us without asking.