Individual freedom has been sought by many throughout the history of the world. But there is only one country that was founded with its own Declaration of Independence (think freedom) – and that is America. Our rich history of individual liberty and freedom dates back more than 200 years; and together with the personal rights of the Declaration we should be free from government interference. Our right to own property, run businesses, and benefit from their success or failure is the heart of a capitalist free market. History shows that government interference has not contributed to the success of a market, only to its downfall. In our previous readings, we learned that William Bradford, as colonial governor in the 1620s, initially thought that by all working together the production needed to keep the colony in a good supply of food and shelter to withstand the harsh winter would be achieved. But he had to transform the colony from communal property to individual property. Because each man would reap individual benefits from his own hard work, productivity increased and the colony endured. According to Adam Smith, the founding father of economics, “Every individual continually strives to find the most profitable use for whatever capital he may have” Page 585. This is a direct expression of our individual freedom to “pursue happiness ”. Smith, in his study of successful nations and their trade, created many terms used today in economics. One of his most famous works, the “invisible hand,” illustrates: “By pursuing his own interest, he often promotes that of society more effectively than when he really intends to promote it” (American Vision and Values, page 204). A great example of nature...... middle of paper...... success when the government intervenes. A free market, without interventions, would have eliminated companies that needed a "rescue" and they would have suffered as a direct consequence of their choices. It seems irresponsible that the government has invested so heavily with our money in financial institutions and companies. If they had failed, the need for their products and services would not necessarily have gone away with their company – another would have arisen and taken their place (if given the opportunity). Many companies have repaid the public investment, but have not contributed beyond that the financial stabilization so desperately needed. Specifically, the financial institutions that now have money to lend have not done so; but they continue to contribute to economic fear across the nation by not lending to consumers and businesses.