The Hidden Cost of Progressivism

Commentary With the U.S. Constitution, the Founding Fathers created a nation of maximum individual freedom, maximum individual responsibility. Limited government, classical liberalism. Having fled anti-democratic European aristocracy, privileged class structure, and limited opportunity, American colonists did not want government in their lives. The Founding Fathers believed Adam Smith was correct when he stated that individuals independently pursuing their self-interest to survive naturally organize society. Without government planning, it was the invisible hand of nature. In 1933, America flipped that vision. To progressives, freedom now meant freedom with government. President Franklin Roosevelt turned government from a neutral third party, whose sole purpose is to protect life, liberty, and property, to government as an active third party, whose sole purpose is to provide life, liberty, and property. This is the nation we have today, where all citizens (to some degree) are dependent on government....