Free Enterprise Is A Spirit That Should Be Seen And Pursued

"A people who are possessed of the spirit of commerce, who see and who will pursue their advantages, may achieve almost anything."

George Washington (1732-1799)

This was a president concerned with "the people" in his country.  And he never forgot that concern.  Forgetting himself he spent his life founding a country "the people" could enjoy.

The key words I see here:  spirit, commerce, pursue, advantages, and achieve.

Put together they indicate a positive people who are free to engage in enterprise.  They would be free to engage in "the pursuit of happiness."

THAT was the country George Washington, and his Founding Brethren, envisioned, conceived, designed and fought to establish.  A country concerned with the new idea that those key words above were preeminent because individuals, whom they called "the people," would finally be protected from tyranny.

Their idea was that this would catch on elsewhere!  In fact, their idea was that it would be a new order for all the world, and for the ages - Novus Ordo Seclorum.

A new age of free enterprise spirit, commerce, pursuit, advantage and achievement.  The pursuit of happiness.

Notice the phrase "pursue their advantages?"

What are our advantages?  Some of us figure out earlier than others what we excel at.  Often it requires our involvement in many different pursuits and fields.  But once our niche is found, how great is it that we can put our efforts there?! 

How great is it that if we want we can strike out on our own to sink or swim?  And to do so without some overlord dictating what we do, how we do it, when we can or can't, or where we set up shop.  Sure, there are guidelines to insure we don't intentionally or unintentionally step on others' toes.  But for the most part, we were to be free.

We are allowed the wherewith all to obtain private property (physical and intellectual), protect it with law, and create our lives.  This goes for our personal life, family life, business life - and whatever other advantage we choose to pursue!

Once possessed of that free enterprise spirit, in any of those contexts, off we go pursuing our advantages and achieving.

THIS IS WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS CONCEIVED.  THIS IS WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS DESIGNED.  AND THIS IS WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS FOUGHT FOR.

And in particular one George Washington.

While he was a Federalist, and in favor, within limits, of a strong federal gubment, he would not recognize the intrusive control we endure today, would not approve and would likely revolt!  And he would wonder how in the world we, the people, could have let such intrusion happen.

Tyranny is what it is, soft, hard and in between.  Statists, to him, would be something to avoid, and even defeat.  They are not apples he would have wanted in the cart.  He understood perfectly well that even one bad apple can spread its defects to spoil the rest in the apples in the cart.

Free enterprise is a spirit that should be seen and pursued.