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Ending Big Government: The Essential Case for Capitalism and Freedom by [Michael Dahlen]

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Michael Dahlen

Ending Big Government: The Essential Case for Capitalism and Freedom Kindle Edition

by Michael Dahlen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Why capitalism is moral and practical . . . and why big government is neither

America has faced many fiscal and economic problems in the last decade: the housing bubble and the financial crisis, stagnant economic growth and high unemployment, record budget deficits and unsustainable debt. What do these problems have in common? They were all caused by statism.

Statism denotes any system of big government, a government that gains power at the expense of individual freedom, a government that uses its power to confiscate and redistribute wealth, to regulate and control the economy, and to micromanage citizens’ behavior.

As Michael Dahlen shows in Ending Big Government: The Essential Case for Capitalism and Freedom, the only rational alternative to statism and the only antidote to the problems it has caused is free-market, laissez-faire capitalism. This is the system of limited government, the system of economic and political freedom. It is a system that has created more wealth, offered more opportunity, and lifted more people out of poverty than any other system.

Yet it is relentlessly demonized. We are told that businessmen pay “starvation wages,” that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer, and that the free market is impractical—prone to crises, depressions, mass unemployment, and coercive monopolies. Michael Dahlen dispels these and many other myths. He shows that a system of free markets and limited government is not only practical; he shows that it is moral, as it is the only system that recognizes each individual’s inalienable right to his own life.

A provocative weave of history, philosophy, and political economy, Ending Big Government shows that laissez-faire capitalism is incontestably superior to statism.

Length: 381 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dahlen's new book makes the case for capitalism so well that it deserves a prominent place in the personal library of anyone committed to defending free markets or advancing their knowledge of sound economics. . . . If you want to advocate and defend capitalism on moral and practical grounds, buy this book, read it, and keep it as a handy reference. As for me, the next time a friend asks for good 'starter' books on economics, I'll still recommend Hazlitt and Rand, but I'll also add a third reference: Ending Big Government by Michael Dahlen."

-Jim Brown, The Objective Standard

Product details

ASIN : B01B3RS3LG
Publisher : Mill City Press; 1st edition (January 25, 2016)
Publication date : January 25, 2016
Language : English
File size : 2208 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 381 pages
Lending : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #422,811 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #49 in Comparative Economics (Kindle Store)
- #137 in Comparative Economics (Books)
- #161 in Free Enterprise

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24 ratings

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applewoodTop Contributor: Blues Music

Should be a textbook in every high school

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2016

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As the subtitle states this IS the essential case for capitalism and freedom, and Professor Dahlen is eminently capable of presenting it, both succinctly and eloquently, and provides a great primer for those as yet unconvinced of the virtues of free market, laissez-faire capitalism, or those who already support it and want more information to be able to defend it more effectively.

Sadly the vast majority of Americans appear to fall into the first group and have no idea that this form of capitalism was fundamental to the founding and building of our nation before the 20th century. Perhaps it would be more appealing today if it was called "free-range capitalism."

This may seem like yet another impractical libertarian (and heaven forbid even Randian influenced!) polemic to those who favor an idealistic centrally planned or a more cautious and compromising "mixed" economic/political philosophy, but it is clear after reading Dahlen that all non free market approaches (including the mixed version) fall into the camp of statism, and that, "Statism is the principle of government force and tyranny." (p.5.). And that it is precisely capitalism's moral foundation (respect for the principle of private property and individual sovereignty) which has been so misunderstood or taken for granted. In the same way that this was a major concern for the majority of Americans in the late 18th century, but it took the actions of a small minority to bring into reality (via the Revolution of 1776) it is once again a major issue in regard to survival of the American experiment, and now up to an educated minority to fight for these freedoms (fight as in diligently guarding our rights to peaceful freedom loving - "free-ranging" - lifestyles and not by armed insurrection).

This message is perhaps more timely than ever and Dahlen's presentation is highly recommended. A real tour de force on the history, philosophy and economics of capitalism in clear and simple language, this would be the perfect textbook for modern high schools, but unfortunately it would also undermine so much of the rest of the social studies curriculum…

6 people found this helpful

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Lisa J. Lickel

Great Conversation Starter

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017

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An industrious and detailed study of just what the title says. Dahlen meticulously references his case, starting from pretty much the earliest societies. The first chapter is a lengthy history and explanatory essay setting up Dahlen's theories and creating a commonality for the terms used. The second chapter is a discourse on Dahlen's personal explorations of why he thinks government should function a particular way. The rest of the book is an excellent conversation starter on how free markets should work and enterprise should and should not be regulated. With sections on the history of capitalism and statism, with statism being put into the same group with fascism and nazism, and other isms, to why the truth of "wealth"; not money, but what people can buy. Wealth, then, is the way toward an "ideal use" of money: the creation of goods that are "marketable, divisible, portable and homogeneous, durable, and hard to produce, or long term" which leads to savings.

What I like about the book is that the author went the extra hundred miles to reference his theories, from Aristotle to Hamilton to contemporary financial, political, and economic thinkers. You don't have to agree to think about the topics, and engage in deliberate conversation.

Readers who like politics, the economy, and hot topics that never go out of style, will be appreciate the effort Dahlen took to create this book that transcends the modern age.

2 people found this helpful

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Jim Brown, CFA

Buy it, read it, and keep it handy!

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2016

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I give a big thumbs up to Ending Big Government, a book that fully deserves a five star rating. Michael Dahlen has written a valuable addition to the literature of free market capitalism, a book that I will keep as a ready reference. Ending Big Government should get a prominent place in the “intellectual ammunition department” of anyone who wants to defend free markets.

Dahlen’s book is addressed to those who are already sympathetic to capitalism and concerned about the growing intrusion of government in our lives. The author demonstrates that American capitalism has been undermined and distorted by increasing government controls, resulting in the foundering “mixed economy” of the present day. The only rational alternative to this hybrid monstrosity, he argues, is laissez faire capitalism, implemented at every level of the government and the economy. Dahlen makes his case by expanding on Ayn Rand’s claim that pure capitalism is not only the most productive social system, but also the only moral system. As the author himself states: “This book will show that capitalism is moral and practical while also showing that statism is immoral and impractical. Toward that end, this book systematically contrasts the history, economics, and the underlying philosophy of each system.“ Dahlen makes good on this promise, and the result is a book that is not only interesting and enjoyable, but also of lasting value, as I will describe below.

Before I get into the highlights of the book, I have a minor quibble about the author's choice of a title. As Dahlen notes in Acknowledgements, the original working title was “Capitalism vs. Big Government,” which he rejected in favor of a “ better” (presumably more marketable) title. I agree that "Ending Big Government” has a nice ring to it, but it implies that the author is actually going to tell us how to get the government off our backs. However, despite the beguiling title, telling us “how” was never his purpose. So, for me at least, it was a minor letdown when I realized (about half way through the book) that the author was not going to provide a roadmap for ending excessive government intrusion. Dahlen fully understands that the culture has to be changed before pure capitalism can be more widely accepted, but we are left on our own to imagine exactly how this can happen in our lifetimes. (Is it just me, or does it feel as if time is running out, and it is becoming ever more urgent to reform our economy and our culture? Perhaps Dahlen will tackle this critical question in a future book.)

Despite this minor distraction, you should definitely buy and read a Dahlen’s book. “Ending Big Government” has two outstanding virtues that make it well worth reading and keeping.

First, “Ending Big Government” is well organized and clearly written. It requires no specialized or technical expertise, so its thesis and reasoning are fully accessible to any interested reader. The structure is logical and easy to understand, so you always know your place within the author’s framework. Dahlen systematically contrasts the virtues of capitalism with the evils of its antipode - statism - along three key dimensions: the history of capitalism versus statism in America; the philosophic underpinnings of both systems; and the economic theories and consequences of each. This is a lot of ground to cover in less than 300 pages, yet Dahlen gets it done it without neglecting any important ideas or events. His combination of clarity and conciseness is refreshing and unusual in a book of such broad scope. (My own proficiency is in economics, and in this area I I found Dahlen’s excellent analysis both terse and accurate.)

Second, Dahlen has written a valuable reference work for anyone interested in the study of any special fact or feature of free market capitalism. The book is extensively and accurately footnoted, allowing the reader to launch a detailed inquiry into any related topic. For example, suppose you want to understand the significance of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Just look up “Sherman Antitrust Act” in the book’s online search engine, and you immediately get five useful references, including a full transcript of the Act itself, as well as sections in the text that concisely explain the context and importance of this famous legislation. Or, suppose you want to know the influence, if any, of the Scottish philosopher David Hume on the ideas underlying the founding of our Republic. Just query “Hume” and you'll get a succinct explanation of the role Hume played in promoting ideas that eventually began to undermine capitalism.

“Ending Big Government” is such a fine reference that I bought both the paperback and the on-line version: the paperback for my desk, so I can make handwritten notes, and the on-line version (Kindle for Mac) so I can readily search topics on-line, as described above.

In conclusion, "Bravo" to Michael Dahlen for writing what is certain to be a successful book, and thanks to him as well for providing a valuable addition to the modern canon of free market literature.

6 people found this helpful

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Merida McKnight

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2016

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Definitely a must read!

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

A Must Read

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2016

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Clearly, well researched and easy to read. A must read for anyone interested in the history of our nation and capitalism. In light of the current political situation, liberals might learn something tangible other than how they feel.

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