Freedom Manifesto: Why Free Markets Are Moral and Big Government Isn't
Freedom Manifesto: Why Free Markets Are Moral and Big Government Isn't
Overview
A Q&A with the AuthorWhat made you decide to writeFreedom Manifesto?The widespread “conventional wisdom” has long been that free markets are amoral, uncaring and driven by “greed”—while Big Government is a force for compassion and fairness. This insidious, deep-seeded belief is the opposite of reality. Not only has it kept people from seeing the moral virtues of democratic capitalism, but it also intimidates supporters and keeps them from standing up for economic freedom.Why do you say that free markets are moral?Free markets create abundance. Opening up any economy unleashes human ingenuity and enterprise. Allowing more competition and opportunity for profit means greater investment in job-creating enterprises and innovation. You end up with lower prices, more available goods and services, more jobs and growth. People’s real world needs are met. The most vibrant sectors of our economy—such and technology, food and clothing—are those that are the most free. Or compare communist North Korea with South Korea and its market economy. Which society offers the greatest fairness?Why is this book important to read right now?Our book deals with the fundamental question at the heart of the 2012 presidential election: What kind of nation do we want to be? Are we a country founded on the values of freedom and limited government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? Or do we want to become a European-style social welfare state?Several books have recently explored why free enterprise is moral. What makes this book different?Freedom Manifestoplaces the moral differences between economic freedom and Big Government in exceptionally stark relief, showing the real choices facing us today. For example, do Americans wantApple or Solyndra?—a society that provides the chance for anyone to get ahead or one based on cronyism that keeps out true innovators and newcomers? Do they wantSilicon Valley or Detroit?—a creativeinnovation economylike our technology sector, or one mired in rigidity, like our over-regulated health care industry?Wouldn’t society descend into chaos without government to provide guidance? Why do you say “Big Government” is immoral?Government is essential to the functioning of free markets because it establishes rules of the road and creates a stable environment where transactions take place according to the impartial rule of law. ButBig Governmentis different from reasonable government. It directs people’s activities and imposes constraints on personal choice and individual freedom. It is about favoritism and paybacks to powerful political constituencies. Big Government also divides society, with various interest groups jockeying for political favors.In a free market, you don’t have to please powerful politicians to advance. Newcomers can rise and upend established players. There is greater mobility and more prosperity for all. The markets of a free economy promote cooperation and democracy. If that’s not a fair and humane society, what is?Description
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The following guidelines apply to books:
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- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
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- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
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If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
A Q&A with the AuthorWhat made you decide to writeFreedom Manifesto?The widespread “conventional wisdom” has long been that free markets are amoral, uncaring and driven by “greed”—while Big Government is a force for compassion and fairness. This insidious, deep-seeded belief is the opposite of reality. Not only has it kept people from seeing the moral virtues of democratic capitalism, but it also intimidates supporters and keeps them from standing up for economic freedom.Why do you say that free markets are moral?Free markets create abundance. Opening up any economy unleashes human ingenuity and enterprise. Allowing more competition and opportunity for profit means greater investment in job-creating enterprises and innovation. You end up with lower prices, more available goods and services, more jobs and growth. People’s real world needs are met. The most vibrant sectors of our economy—such and technology, food and clothing—are those that are the most free. Or compare communist North Korea with South Korea and its market economy. Which society offers the greatest fairness?Why is this book important to read right now?Our book deals with the fundamental question at the heart of the 2012 presidential election: What kind of nation do we want to be? Are we a country founded on the values of freedom and limited government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? Or do we want to become a European-style social welfare state?Several books have recently explored why free enterprise is moral. What makes this book different?Freedom Manifestoplaces the moral differences between economic freedom and Big Government in exceptionally stark relief, showing the real choices facing us today. For example, do Americans wantApple or Solyndra?—a society that provides the chance for anyone to get ahead or one based on cronyism that keeps out true innovators and newcomers? Do they wantSilicon Valley or Detroit?—a creativeinnovation economylike our technology sector, or one mired in rigidity, like our over-regulated health care industry?Wouldn’t society descend into chaos without government to provide guidance? Why do you say “Big Government” is immoral?Government is essential to the functioning of free markets because it establishes rules of the road and creates a stable environment where transactions take place according to the impartial rule of law. ButBig Governmentis different from reasonable government. It directs people’s activities and imposes constraints on personal choice and individual freedom. It is about favoritism and paybacks to powerful political constituencies. Big Government also divides society, with various interest groups jockeying for political favors.In a free market, you don’t have to please powerful politicians to advance. Newcomers can rise and upend established players. There is greater mobility and more prosperity for all. The markets of a free economy promote cooperation and democracy. If that’s not a fair and humane society, what is?Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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