James_Nov-Dec_2025_web - Flipbook - Page 4
P U B L I S H E R ’ S M ES SAG E
FRE E M A R K E T CA P I TA LI S M VS . S O CI A L I S M
As long as capitalism and socialism exist, we cannot live in peace; in the end, one or the other will triumph.
V.I. Lenin, Communist dictator of the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
here’s an overall theme running through this Business
issue: Georgia’s economy
is vibrant and moving along nicely.
And this is basically due to a competitive free market/private enterprise
system that continuously makes
Georgia the No. 1 state in which to do
business and makes our prosperous
nation the envy of the world.
For a “big picture” perspective,
state Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson’s column focuses
on record-breaking investments and
job creation. Also check out entrepreneur Chadwick Hagan’s “report card”
on Georgia’s business environment.
This all ties in with the record already
compiled by Gov. Brian Kemp and the
State Legislature— especially when
it comes to cutting taxes and burdensome overregulation of business.
Georgia’s new labor commissioner
also writes about how her department
is a vital part of the state’s business
friendly team. Furthermore, staff writer Patrick Hickey reports on Georgia’s
technical college system— the best in
the nation— which teaches and then
provides a skilled workforce. Other
articles expand on this overall theme
of progress.
Unfortunately, though, a specter
haunts Georgia and the entire country: Socialism.
As Americans celebrate our
250th anniversary as a constitutional, free market republic, a chilling political reality is unfolding in Georgia.
In 2024 self-proclaimed socialist Gabriel Sanchez was elected as a state
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representative in a Smyrna-based
district. Then there’s Muslim/Palestinian state lawmaker Ruwa Romann
running for governor in the May
Democratic primary. She’s a disciple
of socialist/Marxist Zohran Mamdani who campaigned to be New
York City’s mayor.
Not only center-right politicians
and pundits, but voices within Georgia’s Democratic Party, have been
warning for some time about this
radical lurch in politics. Some news
outlets celebrate these candidates as
“fresh voices.” Fortunately, there are
other (usually independent) journalists and influencers who document
the real-world consequences of
socialist policies.
What is socialism and why does it
foster economic decline? It’s all about
prices, profits and private property.
To paraphrase the wise economist
Ludwig von Mises, socialism would
do away away with all of them,
which then eliminates both the incentive to produce, and the information
needed for realistic pricing and sound
decision-making. Bottom line: When
big government bureaucrats dictate
prices and production quotas, rational economic activities die.
Socialism sends a clear message
to investors: Move your money elsewhere or put it under the mattress.
Under socialism, investment drops,
capital formation is crippled, scarcity
occurs and innovation stops.
Make no mistake, the New York
mayoral campaign by Mandami, and
the elections of Sanchez and Romann
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in Georgia, are no isolated incidents.
It’s part of a coordinated effort to
turn sections of states into footholds
where socialist policies will eventually be pushed nationwide. Log on to
the Democratic Socialists of America website for confirmation. It rails
against the “imperialist, capitalist
system” typified by private property, calls for “the abolition of white
supremacy” and vows to fight against
“fascist” Republicans. Mainstream
Democrats are vilified because “they
are hopelessly compromised by their
donor class of capitalists.”
Socialism is countered by underscoring the relationship between
freedom and prosperity. In general,
the more free the economy the more
it embraces market capitalism which
in turn generates prosperity.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.,
recently met a citizen from a formerly Communist nation and asked:
‘Some people in my party, some of
the lefties are talking about socialism
now. What do you think?’ Fetterman recalls the response. “He’s like,
‘That’s the worst thing ever. I’ve lived
through that kind of a thing. You’re
going to need a reality check if you
ever adopt any of those things. You
know, like, you are morons.’”
This is a person who lived
through socialism’s false promises
and real horrors. “It was a nightmare
for us,” the man told Fetterman, before adding that his native Croatia is
now proudly a “free market nation.”
PHIL KENT CEO & PUB L I S H E R
