In the simplest of terms, C. Edmund Wright presents the two competing views of government at work today in America.

It’s about the entire notion of the role of government intervention in our economy.  In Texas, and all over red-state America, the idea is that government’s role in the economy is merely to foster an environment where businesses can prosper.  This is a good thing of course, allowing businesses to create jobs and economic opportunities for the owners and employees and investors through the production of attractive goods and services for consumers.  This win-win-win equation explains the engine that has fueled the economy of our nation for decades.  This is Milton Friedman’s compassion theory in practice.  He would no doubt like SB 81.

In blue-state America, the notion is that government must manage every aspect of business to make sure rules are followed and that no one is taken advantage of by anyone at any time.  It’s the idea that highly educated central planners can create a better economy by empowering armies of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats who will interpret and enforce all of these wonderful ivory tower edicts from the smartest among us.  As Friedman would ask sarcastically, just who “would be these angels” that could deem fairness from on high?

As Mr. Wright points out, comparing the economic results by state shows which view works. Regardless, our Federal government insists on using Blue-State economics to manage the economy. Is there any wonder why the country is approximating California, Illinois and New York?