Whether we look at capitalism, taxes, business, or government, the data show a clear and consistent pattern: 70 percent of Americans support the free enterprise system and are unsupportive of big government.
Arthur C. BrooksConservatives are better talking about opportunity and growth in the abstract, while liberals talk more about poor people. Right now we [americans] need a good, optimistic, conservative opportunity ideology that is totally geared toward lifting up the poor. That's what I most want to see in candidates.
Arthur C. BrooksThe system that enables the most people to earn the most success is free enterprise, by matching up people's skills, interests, and abilities. In contrast, redistribution simply spreads money around. Even worse, it attenuates the ability to earn success by perverting economic incentives.
Arthur C. BrooksThe key to happiness is not being rich; it's doing something arduous and creating something of value and then being able to reflect on the fruits of your labor.
Arthur C. BrooksThe truth is that relative income is not directly related to happiness. Nonpartisan social-survey data clearly show that the big driver of happiness is earned success: a person's belief that he has created value in his life or the life of others.
Arthur C. BrooksWe will have bigger bureaucracies, bigger labor unions, and bigger state-run corporations. It will be harder to be an entrepreneur because of punitive taxes and regulations. The rewards of success will be expropriated for the sake of attaining greater income equality.
Arthur C. BrooksFree enterprise is essentially a formula not just for wealth creation, but for life satisfaction.
Arthur C. BrooksAs a political independent, I would gladly vote for any political party dedicated to limited government and entrepreneurship.
Arthur C. BrooksHappiness isn't found in some finite checklist of goals that we can diligently complete and then coast. It's how we live our lives in the process. That's why the four pillars of happiness are faith, family, community and meaningful work. Those are priorities we have to keep investing in.
Arthur C. BrooksThere is nothing inherently fair about equalizing incomes. If the government penalizes you for working harder than somebody else, that is unfair. If you save your money but retire with the same pension as a free-spending neighbor, that is also unfair.
Arthur C. BrooksThe more control you have over your life, the more responsible you feel for your own success - or failure.
Arthur C. Brooks