Freedom Itself

Congressman Roger Williams

 ”. . . I firmly believe that we will never be a socialist country because the fabric of our nation is soaked in the moral imperatives of responsibility, pride and discipline.” 

The current debate between socialism versus capitalism is not merely about two economic ideas: it's about freedom itself. 

I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to discuss the inherent danger socialism poses to our economy. I joined thousands of fellow patriots who believe that America is exceptional because of our freedom and we are, without a doubt, the greatest nation on earth.

As a small business owner of 48 years, I know firsthand that certainty is key. Thanks to President Trump’s pro-growth and pro-worker agenda, he has cut regulations that unfairly burden business owners, providing them with the ability to plan ahead. That’s why we are seeing the lowest unemployment rate in decades and hundreds of thousands of jobs added every month.

I’m proud of my work with the Trump administration as we fight to give job creators greater freedom to hire more employees, raise wages and purchase essential equipment in order to keep up with demand.

Neighbor-owned businesses in the 25th District such as coffee shops, florists, auto repair stores and boutiques are the lifeblood of our communities. This is called Main Street America, and it employs nearly 50-percent of the private workforce in our nation. Main Street was built by men and women who wanted to reach for more because at the end of the day, we inherently possess a desire to dream bigger and dream bolder, turning our dreams into vision and our vision into reality. This is the real American Dream – and it's possible because of capitalism.

Rather than nurture the desire to grow and aim higher, socialism kills innovation and pushes entrepreneurship down. Its proponents claim that if there is a central power regulating "fairness," it will lead to equality and prosperity for everyone. That could not be further from the truth. Giving control to one entity and providing hand-outs creates a society where people are no longer motivated by the dignity of reaping reward from hard work. It is a dangerous course that destroys communities and crushes freedom.

America is a nation of opportunity and incentive, and because of those principles, we are a nation of hope where everyone can benefit. I am and always will be an unapologetic capitalist, and I firmly believe that we will never be a socialist country because the fabric of our nation is soaked in the moral imperatives of responsibility, pride and discipline. 
We are the envy of the world and we must instill these values in our future generations at every opportunity.