In the discussion of economics it is easy to jump to the conclusion that if a Christian is politically interested one needs to take the pick between a heartless form of Lassiez faire Capitalism or Socialism government control on the other. This is a false distinction based on the idea that Capitalism equals lassiez faire Economics.
Free markets (which is what I mean by Capitalism) have to do with the recognition of private property as a God Given right it does not mean that there is no taxation or no regulations. Nor does it mean there is no government social insurance for those in need nor that there are no laws against vices that harm society.
I will start with my last statement first. Vices that harm society such as the Pornography industry should be banned. Abortion needs to be abolished. Actual marriage needs defended and reinstating into the law as between the opposite sex. Drug legalization needs to be undone. We need to start taking into account The Ten Commandments and God's Moral Law. Gender issues need to be treated with mental health assistance not body Mutilation and lies about one's sex. The list is endless as to what on the social side governments should be doing.
This is not compatible with let er rip lassiez faire forms of Capitalism. So, if lassiez faire is baked into your definition of Capitalism drop me from your Capitalism advocate list. Instead just call me a private property defender. Next let us tackle issue #2 with the lassiez fairest idea. No government assistance for anyone and complete separation of economics from government.
There is no inconsistency in government recognition and protection of property rights along side providing social insurance or assistance for its citizens in need. This happens in many Nations where the market is left relatively free, but, citizens pay taxes to state based funds for paying to assist people.
Thus, suppose we separate the idea of the administrative state—which tries to over control, regulate, manipulate, and manage the economy—from the social insurance state—which provides tax-financed education, healthcare, or unemployment insurance. On the Index of Economic Freedom, many countries that rank lower than the US have far less extensive administrative states than the US. For instance, Denmark ranks much higher than the United States on property rights, freedom from corruption, business freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and many other countries beat the US on these measures as well. Thus, many other European countries might reasonably be considered more economically free than the US.
The Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation produce an annual Index of Economic Freedom. They rate countries for their respect for property rights, freedom from corruption, business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom, fiscal freedom, and government spending. Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Chile, Mauritius, and Ireland have higher scores than the United States. The United States ranks only 10th overall.
What one wants is not a unregulated lassiez faire market, but, instead a political-economic regime in which there is a properly vs over regulated market economy. In which the government taxes people to provide social insurance and other welfare benefits, but, leaves people's justly acquired private property alone.
