Of Manliness and Capitalism

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is turning 250 this year. It is, perhaps, not completely coincidental that this original capitalist tome was first published in 1776—the same year the Declaration of Independence was written and signed to free this nation from British subjugation of the peoples’ rights, including their right to commerce.

One of the grievances listed against King George III in the Declaration was: “For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world.” And many of the taxes, restrictions on trade, and more from the British at the time—things that led to the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution—were government actions and restrictions Wealth of Nations argued against.

For these reasons, it is an oversight of Republican Party leadership that this telling anniversary was not mentioned in the 250^th celebrations of the signing of the Declaration.

We are, after all, now in a moment of history when many of the youth in our elite universities, along with their professors, are openly flirting with socialism.

And it isn’t just the universities.

There are now Democrat Socialist of America (DSA) members running metropolitan areas from New York City to Richmond, Calif. The DSA currently claims around 250 members in elected government positions nationwide (mostly in local offices) and over 100,000 members. (Its linked newsletter here literally begins with “Dear Comrades.”)

A lot of political commentary is understandably focused on the fact that the candidates with socialist views who recently won Democratic primaries—most notably to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate (Abdul El-Sayed)—are arguably too far left to win general elections.

The trouble is, the framing here still matters.

For the rest of my op-ed at FOX News click here.