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CZEconomyOverlooked from the right3 days ago

The Meaning of Limited Government—Then and Now

The article discusses the historical significance of the Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations,' highlighting their foundational liberal ideas from the Enlightenment. It notes that while these texts have notable shortcomings, particularly in excluding large portions of the population, their impact was revolutionary. The author contrasts this historical vision with the current stance of the Republican Party, suggesting that it claims to restore the laissez-faire ideals but fails to uphold their core principles.

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Politics

Jun 18, 2026

Jeffrey Frankel

In 1776, Adam Smith and America’s founders envisioned an economy that allowed individuals to pursue their own material well-being, with minimal government intervention. Today, America’s Republican Party claims to be committed to restoring that laissez-faire ideal, even as they make a mockery of its animating principles.

CAMBRIDGE—Two hundred and fifty years ago, two momentous texts—the Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations —embodied a set of liberal ideas widely associated with the Enlightenment. Much is made of how the men who championed these ideas fell short, not least by excluding much of the population from their purview. But these failings, however egregious, should not obscure just how groundbreaking the ideas were. In fact, they had been entirely absent from almost all previous civilizations.

Read the full article at Project Syndicate →

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Project SyndicateIndependentLeft3 days ago
The Meaning of Limited Government—Then and Now

The article discusses the historical significance of the Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations,' highlighting their foundational liberal ideas from the Enlightenment. It notes that while these texts have notable shortcomings, particularly in excluding large portions of the population, their impact was revolutionary. The author contrasts this historical vision with the current stance of the Republican Party, suggesting that it claims to restore the laissez-faire ideals but fails to uphold their core principles.

Bias read (Left): The article critiques the Republican Party's claim to uphold laissez-faire economics by implying they 'make a mockery' of its principles. This framing suggests a negative view of the party's economic policies, aligning with a left-leaning perspective that emphasizes government intervention for the公共