Category Archives: Freedom

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

The recent attacks on U.S. diplomatic outposts in the Middle East are certainly disappointing, but the U.S. still has a big opportunity to exert a positive influence in the region. An often overlooked contributor to the regions highly combustible condition is a pervasive lack of economic opportunity and economic freedom. Our free market system is just what the region needs.

To date, the U.S. has struggled to find a policy that can simultaneously promote freedom and stability in the Arab world. The focus on democracy has produced little success. The jury is still out on the ultimate character of new regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, but the recent assaults on U.S. missions show that volatility and anti-Americanism remains high there.

Governments are tottering in Syria and Yemen, and massive U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan have failed to fully secure either peace or security. Thirty years of efforts to influence post-revolutionary Iran have left that country an international pariah and potential nuclear threat to its neighbors. Its not a pretty record.

The nub of the problem is that purely political revolutions are inherently destabilizing. From the reign of terror that followed the French Revolution right through the democratically installed Communist and Nazi regimes of 20th century Europe to the postcolonial dictators dominating Africa today, it is an unfortunate truth that political revolutions lead as often to tears as to utopia. We are crying in the Middle East today.

Economic liberalization offers a better path to revolutionary change. Free markets, based on the voluntary decisions of individuals, facilitate win-win transactions. Both sides gain, or else the interactions dont happen. Free markets require no central guide, and no government plan. When individuals can decide for themselves what to do, there is little need for collective action. You dont need a mob, or an officious and corrupt government bureaucrat, to influence the outcome or defend your interests.

It was an economic grievance that inspired Mohamed Bouazizi, a young Tunisian street vendor, to set himself on fire and, thus, spark the conflagration we know as the Arab Spring. What had frustrated Bouazizis attempts to earn a living was government regulation and corruption. The humiliation and helplessness he experienced is inflicted daily on millions of Arabs who live without economic freedom and any hope of betterment.

The Middle East lags in many areas of economic freedom. Overall unemployment in the region tops 10 percent, and for youth, its much worse. More than 25 percent of those younger than 25 cant find jobs.

A chapter in the latest Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom explored the link between corruption and terrorism in the region and concluded that the motivation for terrorism is likely less about Islam against Western values and more about revenge against corrupt regimes in the Middle East.

If that is true, we are not going to help the people of the Middle East, or indeed preserve our own security, by fomenting political revolution, or by helping dictators resist it. We might succeed, however, by helping put Arab societies on the path to economic freedom. We can lower our own barriers to trade and encourage governments in the Middle East to do likewise. We can encourage reforms to open up investment, create jobs and empower individuals economically.

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MILLER: Economic freedom the real antidote to Arab unrest

(Phys.org)The United States, long considered a champion of economic freedom, plunged to No. 18 in new rankings published in the 2012 Economic Freedom of the World, an annual report co-authored by Florida State University economics Professor James Gwartney.

The report is published by Canada's Fraser Institute in cooperation with institutes in 78 other nations and territories. The U.S. publisher is the Cato Institute. The 2012 report, released on Sept. 18, uses 42 different variables derived from sources such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to measure the degree to which the institutions and policies of 144 countries are consistent with economic freedom.

"The report indicates that the U.S. is on the wrong track," Gwartney said. "Freer economies grow more rapidly and achieve higher income levels. Now, for more than a decade, the United States has been expanding the size of government, increasing both debt and regulation, and using subsidies, grants, tax breaks and mandates to centrally plan large sectors of the economy. A system of crony capitalism has emerged. The declining economic freedom rating of the United States provides confirmation of this trend."

The cornerstones of economic freedom are personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete, and security of private property, according to Gwartney, who has served as an author of the report since its inception in 1996. Gwartney's co-authors this year are Robert A. Lawson of Southern Methodist University and Joshua Hall of Beloit College.

To determine the rankings, the authors used an index that measures the degree to which countries rely on rule of law and markets rather than political decision-making to allocate resources. The current ratings and rankings are based on data through year-end 2010.

Hong Kong once again topped the rankings of the 144 countries, followed by Singapore, New Zealand and Switzerland. Australia and Canada were tied for fifth.

From 1980 to 2000, the U. S. ranking was third, behind only Hong Kong and Singapore. However, since 2000, the U.S. ranking has slid steadily downward to eighth in 2005, 10th in 2008, and now 18th in 2010. The economic freedom score of the United States now falls below Finland and Denmark, two European welfare states. The United States also trails Mauritius, Chile, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Taiwan and Qatar.

The summary ratings of countries range from a low of approximately 3.0 to a high of near 9.0. The U.S. rating has fallen from 8.65 in 2000 to 7.70 in 2010. This approximate 1-point decline may not sound like much, but the report argues that a 1-point change in a country's rating is associated with between a 1- and a 1.5-percentage-point decline in long-term economic growth.

Historically, the per capita income of the United States has grown at an annual rate of a little more than 2 percent. A 1-percentage-point decline would mean future annual growth of per capita income in the 1 percent range, half the historic average, Gwartney said. The growth rate of per capita income in the United States averaged 2.3 percent in the 1980s and 2.2 percent during the 1990s, but it fell to an annual rate of only 0.7 percent from 2000 to 2010.

"This sluggish growth will be the new norm unless we move away from the policies that are undermining economic freedom," Gwartney said.

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Economic freedom report: US continues slide, drops to 18th

by James D. Gwartney, Robert Lawson and Joshua Hall

James Gwartney, Robert Lawson, and Joshua Hall are the coauthors of Economic Freedom of the World: 2012 Annual Report. They are economics professors at Florida State University, Southern Methodist University, and Beloit College, respectively.

Added to cato.org on September 18, 2012

This article appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer on September 18, 2012.

As the country enters the final months of the presidential election season, candidates from both parties will promise policies that they claim will improve our standards of living. While the focus of the political debate will be on short-term economic recovery and jobs, the source of long-term prosperity is economic freedom.

Economic freedom means people are free to choose, trade, compete, invest, and have the fruits of their labor protected against aggressors within a legal framework of equal treatment and minimal interference from government. The link between economic freedom and long-term prosperity is overwhelming: freer economies invest more, grow more rapidly, and achieve higher income levels than those that are less free.

The United States, long considered a bastion of economic freedom, has become less free during the past decade. This decline is across the board. Increases in government spending, record deficits, violation of property rights, more onerous regulation of business, and wars on terrorism and drugs have all contributed to the erosion of economic freedom in America.

For the past two decades, we have worked to develop an accurate and comprehensive measure of the extent of economic freedom across countries and time. This work resulted in the Economic Freedom of the World Annual Report, published by the Cato Institute in the United States, the Fraser Institute in Canada, and a network of institutes in 78 other countries. The Economic Freedom of the World (EFW) index uses 42 different statistical variables collected from reputable sources such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the World Economic Forum.

he link between economic freedom and long-term prosperity is overwhelming...

The 2012 report, being released today, provides data through 2010 for 144 countries. As in earlier years, Hong Kong and Singapore head the list of the freest economies, but the United States has continued its fall in the rankings.

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Freedom Is Key to Prosperity

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sep 18, 2012) - Canada is among the top five most economically free countries in the world, well ahead of the United States which has fallen to 18th overall, according to the Fraser Institute''s annual Economic Freedom of the World report.

Canada, with an economic freedom score of 7.97 out of 10, tied with Australia to rankfifth out of 144 nations and territories included in the Economic Freedom of the World: 2012 Annual Report. Last year, Canada ranked sixth overall.

"Canada''s relatively high level of economic freedom has resulted in stronger economic growth, higher income levels, and less pain from the global recession," said Fred McMahon, Fraser Institute vice-president of international policy research.

"Meanwhile, other nations embraced heavy-handed regulation and extensive over-spending in response to the American and European debt crises. Consequently, their levels of economic freedom decreased."

The United States, long considered a champion of economic freedom among large industrial nations, continues its protracted decline in the global rankings. This year, the U.S. plunged to 18th, its lowest-ever ranking and a sharp drop from second overall, the position it held in 2000. Much of this decline is a result of high spending on the part of the U.S. government.

Hong Kong again topped the rankings of 144 countries, followed by Singapore, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Australia and Canada tied for fifth overall.

Research shows that people living in countries with high levels of economic freedom enjoy greater prosperity, more political and civil liberties, and longer life spans.

Globally, the average economic freedom score rose slightly to 6.83 in 2010, the most recent year available, after plummeting to its lowest level in nearly three decades with a score of 6.79 in 2009.

The annual Economic Freedom of the World report is the premier measurement of economic freedom, using 42 distinct variables to create an index ranking of countries around the world based on policies that encourage economic freedom. The cornerstones of economic freedom are personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete, and security of private property. Economic freedom is measured in five different areas: (1) size of government, (2) legal structure and security of property rights, (3) access to sound money, (4) freedom to trade internationally, and (5) regulation of credit, labour, and business. The full report is available at http://www.freetheworld.com.

Canada''s scores in key areas of economic freedom (from one to 10, where higher values indicate higher levels of economic freedom) are:

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The Fraser Institute: Canada Leads North America in Economic Freedom, Tied With Australia for Fifth Spot Globally; U.S ...

By DAVE GOSSETT - For The Intelligencer , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

STEUBENVILLE - A group of parishioners from Holy Family Catholic Church in Steubenville have organized a yard freedom cross campaign they hope will spread across the city and the nation.

Don Jordan said the idea for freedom crosses was prompted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation threat to sue the city over an unofficial logo that includes a cross and the silhouette of the Christ the King chapel on the Franciscan University of Steubenville campus.

"We had a number of concerns regarding the foundation that threatened to sue the city. We felt it was an attack on our religious freedom. Our bishops have urged Catholics to pray, fast and take action in response to the attack on our religious freedom. This is our way of taking action," said Jordan. "The Holy Family Evangelization program and our other parish ministries banded together to develop the 'freedom cross' for Holy Family parishioners to place in their yards as a witness to our faith and our right to religious freedom."

"The idea came from the photos from the Sept. 11 attack on the Twin Towers. I will always remember the photo of the damaged girders that had been twisted into a cross. The New York firefighters hung an American flag on the girders. That photo will always remain with me, and it inspired our freedom cross design," said John Miller, a volunteer.

The idea caught fire among several parishioners who have helped create the wooden crosses with the word "freedom" stenciled across the front and a small American flag placed at the top of the cross.

"We are cutting, assembling and painting approximately 200 crosses for our Holy Family parishioners. And we talked to Mark Nelson of the Nelson Fine Art and Gifts business, and he has agreed to create a very similar design for sale to the general public," said Jordan.

"This is about promoting freedom of religion in our country. We have already had requests from several area citizens who want to express their support for our religious freedom." said Nelson.

The freedom crosses also are available at freedomtothemax.com.

City officials have met with representatives from four law firms who offered free legal assistance if the city fights the legal challenge from the FFRF.

Originally posted here:
Freedom Cross Campaign Launched to Support City in Logo Battle

LONDON , ON, Sept. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - London Life's iconic Freedom 55 FinancialTM brand has launched a new national multimedia advertising campaign that aims to inspire Canadians to plan to achieve their financial dreams, whatever they may be.

The 13-week ad campaign includes online, newsprint, a micro-website with an advisor locator, out-of-home and transit, digital space in office towers and subways, as well as signage in restaurants and fitness centres. These are the first new English-language ads since 2009 for the widely known brand that London Life introduced in the 1980s.

"Freedom 55 Financial is here to help Canadians achieve financial success in whatever way they define it," said Alf Goodall, Senior Vice-President, Individual Marketing, London Life. "We do this through the more than 3,300 Freedom 55 Financial security advisors who help Canadians develop the right financial security plan for every stage of life."

Freedom 55 Financial has continually evolved to respond to changing client needs. For a long time, many people associated "financial freedom," and therefore the brand, with early retirement. Economic instability and changing demographics have made early retirement harder to achieve, but more importantly, less compelling. Canadians told us they saw our brand as broader than early retirement; that we helped them achieve financial freedom in a wide variety of ways.

Canadians express "financial freedom" in many ways, said Goodall. "It can be grand, like taking an early retirement; sailing around the world; engaging in personal philanthropy in your community or helping build homes in Guatemala ; helping grandchildren through college or university; or going back to university for a law degree in your 70s. What's important is how our clients define freedom. They tell us what. We'll show them how."

Goodall said the advertising campaign reaches out to Canadians who do not yet have a financial security advisor or have not yet developed a financial security plan.

Founded in London , Ontario, in 1874, London Life offers financial security advice and planning through its more than 3,300-member Freedom 55 Financial division.

SOURCE: London Life Insurance Company

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Freedom 55 Financial's new advertising campaign encourages Canadians to reflect on what 'freedom' means to them

Freedom of expression cannot be constrained when it comes to books and encouraged when it comes to violence, says Mitali Saran.

The drama about cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, tossed in the clink by the Maharashtra [ Images ] police on charges of sedition, has been jostling for space with the drama about a Libyan mob attacking the United States consulate in Benghazi to protest a film whose best feature is tastelessness, made by some shadowy guy whom nobody seems to know and everyone seems to dislike.

In one case the question is, on what planet is satire seditious, and in the other case the question is, how can anyone take such a lousy film seriously? Watch the excerpt on YouTube -- you will be enraged at the insult to the art of film-making.

Both the UPA and the NDA have distanced themselves from the Trivedi kerfuffle, but then Mr Trivedi is a no-contest case. No political party has yet done anything to address the processes that allow people to harass each other with frivolous lawsuits that make life a living hell. At the moment you can actually force someone to emigrate (RIP, M F Husain [ Images ]), by filing specious cases citing hurt sentiments, which the courts inexplicably continue to entertain, as if they don't have enough genuine cases backed up for miles.

Insecure governments thrive on events like these that highlight the nasty real-life consequences of free speech, from incarceration to murder. They cite the limits of free speech when it's an inconvenience, viz cartoons that mock venality and corruption, but love to push those limits themselves, for example to mobilise vote banks when Salman Rushdie [ Images ] is due to hit town during election time.

It then becomes easy to draw a straight line from freedom of expression to law and order problems, without stopping to ask why random charges of sedition by a private individual against another are even applicable, or why politicians feel free to organise and whip up blind religious fervour where there wasn't really any, or why there isn't better law and order to back up our constitutional rights.

And at the end of that line is, always, the glorification of the wrong sort of no-offence. We're told to practise "No offence meant", but are forgetting how to say "None taken". When cartoons are banned from school textbooks, we are being encouraged to become increasingly emotionally illiterate and childlike, unable to detect nuance, and free to throw tantrums and break things when we're upset. We're forgetting how to read text and pictures in a sophisticated manner, forgetting about irony and satire, and becoming dull-witted literalists who read a cartoon depicting the betrayal and corruption of national symbols as anti-patriotic. As the world grows infinitely more complex, we're becoming ever more simple-minded.

In a democracy that stands by free speech, the best response to a bad book is a better book. So you have to wonder about the aims of a state that hasn't, for two thirds of a century, made education not just literacy the cornerstone of their policy. A population that cannot read or write a better book, but is always up for a good riot, is a population at the mercy of a political class that delights in yanking its chain.

The core debate that we have not properly had is: do we think that freedom of speech is a principle worth defending, with blood if need be? If so, the lines must be drawn, as the Supreme Court says, by "reasonable, strong-minded, firm and courageous men, and not those of weak and vacillating minds, nor of those who scent danger in every hostile point of view". That means, draw the lines in defence of risking offence, not in defence of being offended. The courts need to tell us more often, to get over it. We need steely law enforcement to make sure we do get over it. And we need to have non-violent tools with which to express our offendedness. Freedom of expression cannot be constrained when it comes to books and encouraged when it comes to violence.

A cartoon by The Onion is currently doing the rounds on Facebook. Below the drawing of a set of familiar deities pleasuring each other, the "news" caption says that the image "reportedly went online at 6.45 pm EDT, after which not a single bomb threat was made against the organisation responsible, nor did the person who created the cartoon go home fearing for his life in any way. Though some members of the Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths were reportedly offended by the image, sources confirmed that upon seeing it, they simply shook their heads, rolled their eyes, and continued on with their day".

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Is freedom of speech a principle worth defending?

September 17, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Marion, IL-The Southern Illinois Miners won their first ever Frontier League Championship on a bases loaded walk in the twelfth inning to defeat the Florence Freedom Sunday night 4-3. The Miners won the best of five series three games to one.

The Miners jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Javier Herrera scored on a throwing error by second baseman Pierre Lepage and Chad Maddox hit a two run homerun.

The Freedom got on the board in the seventh. Jim Jacquot led off the inning with a walk. Stephen Cardullo then singled into centerfield. Alvaro Rameriz misplayed the ball which allowed both runners to score.

The Freedom then tied the game in the eighth. With the bases loaded Jacquot reached on a fielder's choice scoring Kyle Bluestein to tie the game at 3-3.

The game went into extra innings with neither offense scoring until the twelfth. Jorge Marban(1-1)took the loss as he walked the leadoff batter Maddox. Carlos Mendez then advanced him to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Sean Coughlin then drew a walk. After Cannon Lester struck out swinging, Will Block was intentially walked to load the bases by Brent Choban. With the bases loaded and two outs, Choban faced Jake Kaase. With the count 3-2, Choban walked Kaase to force home Maddox to give the Miners the game winning run.

Andy Clark started the game for the Freedom and went five innings allowing five hits on two earned runs and earned a no decision. Brandon Mathes then pitched six strong innings allowing three hits and striking out eight in his appearance out of the bullpen keeping the Freedom in the game.

Peter Fatse and Stephen Cardullo each had three hits to lead the Freedom in their final game of the season.

The 2012 team ended up winning 57 games which was the most in franchise history since the team moved to Florence in 2003. They also became the first team in franchise history to play in the postseason and in the Frontier League championship series.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom Run Ends with Ball Four in Extras

STEUBENVILLE - A group of parishioners from the Holy Family Catholic Church have organized a yard freedom cross campaign they hope will spread across the city and country.

Don Jordan said the idea for freedom crosses was prompted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation threat to sue the city over an unofficial logo that includes a cross and the silhouette of the Christ the King chapel on the Franciscan University of Steubenville campus.

"We had a number of concerns regarding the foundation that threatened to sue the city. We felt it was an attack on our religious freedom. Our bishops have urged Catholics to pray, fast and take action in response to the attack on our religious freedom. This is our way of taking action," explained Jordan.

FREEDOM Robert Lantz of Steubenville outlined the word freedom on a freedom cross that volunteers are constructing out of 2-by-4-inch boards. Several parishioners from Holy Family Catholic Church have created 200 freedom crosses to protest a legal challenge to Steubenvilles unofficial logo that includes a cross and silhouette of the Franciscan University of Steubenville Christ the King chapel. The Freedom Crosses also are on sale at Nelsons Fine Art and Gifts store on Lincoln Avenue. - Dave Gossett

"The Holy Family Evangelization program and our other parish ministries banded together to develop the 'freedom cross' for Holy Family parishioners to place in their yards as a witness to our faith and our right to religious freedom," stated Jordan.

"The idea came from the photos from the Sept. 11 attack on the Twin Towers. I will always remember the photo of the damaged girders that had been twisted into a cross. The New York firefighters hung an American flag on the girders. That photo will always remain with me and it inspired our freedom cross design," said John Miller, a volunteer.

The idea caught fire among several parishioners who have helped create the wooden crosses with the word, "freedom" stenciled across the front and a small American flag placed at the top of the cross.

"We are cutting, assembling and painting approximately 200 crosses for our Holy Family parishioners. And we talked to Mark Nelson of the Nelson Fine Art and Gifts business and he has agreed to create a very similar design for sale to the general public," said Jordan.

"We started our first production run Friday, and the freedom crosses are available at our store on Lincoln Avenue for $10 each or on our freedomtothemax.com website. This is about promoting freedom of religion in our country. We have already had requests from several area citizens who want to express their support for our religious freedom," said Nelson.

Jordan said several officials from Franciscan University of Steubenville spoke to parishioners after a recent Sunday Mass.

More:
Freedom cross campaign growing in Steubenville

September 16, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Marion, IL-The Florence Freedom were on the brink of elimination Saturday night in the Frontier League Championship series but prevailed in game three with a 4-3 win over the Southern Illinois Miners.

The win extended the best of five series to game four Sunday night in Marion, Illinois. The Miners lead the Freedom two games to one.

The Freedom trailed 2-0 in the fourth when Drew Rundle recorded an RBI single and John Malloy produced a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2.

With the Freedom trailing 3-2 in the fifth they rallied for two runs against Miner starter Cody Hall(1-1)to take the lead for good. David Harris drove an RBI double over center fielder Alvaro Ramirez's head and then Peter Fatse came through with a sacrifice fly to give the Freedom a 4-3 advantage.

Brad Allen(3-0) remained perfect as a starter for the Freedom this year. He worked six innings giving up eight hits on three earned runs while striking out three.

Andres Caceres pitched a scoreless seventh as Jorge Marban notched a two inning save. The Miners threatened in the ninth as they had runners on the corners with one out. Ramirez hit a grounder to shortstop Junior Arrojo who threw home to catcher Jim Jacquot. Jacquot applied the tag on Carlos Mendez trying to score the game tying run. Marban then got Jake Kaase to pop out to first baseman Drew Rundle to end the game.

Harris and Pierre LePage led the Freedom with two hits apiece.

The Freedom and Miners will play game four Sunday night at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois. The starters are TBA for both teams. The game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 5:50 pm on Real Talk 1160 AM and realtalk1160.com.

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Freedom Hold off Miners and Live to Play Another Day