Are We Good Enough for Liberty?

by Lawrence W. Reed

"If you do not govern yourself, you will be governed." -Lawrence W. Reed

In “Are We Good Enough for Liberty?”, Lawrence W. Reed establishes, through stories and lessons from across the world, the indispensable connection between liberty and character and explains why, throughout history, "no people who lost their character kept their liberty."

Lawrence W. ("Larry") Reed became president of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 2008. Prior to becoming FEE's president, he served for twenty years as president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan. He also taught economics full-time from 1977 to 1984 at Northwood University in Michigan and chaired its Department of Economics from 1982 to 1984. A champion for liberty, Reed has authored over 1,000 newspaper columns and articles, dozens of articles in magazines and journals in the United States and abroad.

The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) is the premier source for understanding the humane values of a free society, and the economic, legal, and ethical principles that make it possible. At FEE, you’ll be connected with people worldwide who share those values and are inspired by the dynamic ideas of free association, free markets, and a diverse civil society.

Explore freedom’s limitless possibilities through seminars, classroom resources, social media, and daily content at FEE.org. Learn how your creativity and initiative can result in a prosperous and flourishing life for yourself and the global community. Whether you are just beginning to explore entrepreneurship, economics, or creating value for others or are mentoring others on their journeys, FEE has everything you need.

FEE is supported by voluntary, tax-deductible contributions from individuals, foundations, and businesses who believe that it is vital to cultivate a deep appreciation in every generation for individual liberty, personal character, and a free economy. Supporters receive a subscription to FEE's flagship magazine, the Freeman, also available at FEE.org.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, Nonfiction, Economics, Government

72 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Lawrence W. Reed is the president of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) and the author or editor of several books, including Excuse Me, Professor: Challenging the Myths of Progressivism. Before joining FEE, he served as president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan, and chaired Northwood University’s department of economics. Reed has written some 1,500 articles for newspapers and magazines worldwide. He is a frequent guest on radio and television.

Reviews

[Patrick Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book. Very inspiring. Very uplifting. Only about 70 pp. Here's what's in it:

Forward
Liberty and Character - main essay - wonderful.
I, Pencil (By Leonard Read) - classic essay
Afterward (By Milton Friedman, 1976) - tells how he used "I, Pencil" in his "Free To Choose book and TV series and why.
Resources and Background
About the Author
Index

The main essary was just delightful and I learned a bunch of new things about certain movies, people and fundamental ideas that had not come across before. That is kind of amazing, since I have known and been reading the author for over 35 years, and it is such a short, easy book to read.

You don't want to miss the story of the author's trip to Cambodia in 1989 with Haing Ngor, it is simply incredible, and so heartwarming.

Enjoy.

[Bryan Hieser · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main essay here, called “Liberty and Character: The Indispensable Connection,” is an extended edition of a commencement address given by the author multiple times in the mid-2000s. I see it as Reed’s reflection of John Adams’s quote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Reed’s point is that character is vital to maintain a free society, and that the United States’s social, political, and economic arrangement demands high character.

The essay is a product of its time. Post-war liberalism was firmly established as the de facto worldview by the mid-2000s. Reed, a Christian, cites Paul’s self description in 2 Tim. 4:7 as an example of integrity, but doesn’t argue from the Bible to define character, or what kind of character our Constitution demands from us. Instead, character is defined here as how you choose to interact with others, and Reed provides several other personal and historic examples including William Wilberforce and George Washington. It seems Reed wants to appeal to the West’s Christian (i.e. Protestant) heritage and Christianity itself in his logic, but cannot due to the constraints of moral and religious pluralism, citing only the actions of great men without mentioning the moral training at their foundation which enabled their exemplary self-government. In the current day, as post-war liberalism is losing its grip on the West, Reed’s conclusion is still true, but how he gets there is not as compelling as it was 20 years ago.

I liked this publication’s inclusion of the essay, “I, Pencil.” Always a good read.

[Kris Kaleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd recommend this mini-book to any teenager who is looking for his own views. I'd recommend it with a pleasure, as it is well-written and well-discussed. Professor Reed understands the importance of character, how important it is to follow the good moral standards in order to live peacefully in the society. I'd love to say that everybody should have similar beliefs, however I understand that others might have completely different political and economic beliefs. They too can find the moral ground in this book. After all, we can differ politically and economically, yet we should always be good human beings.

[Nickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book actually includes two stories. Are We Good Enough For Liberty is asking the questions related to character development and uses several people from the past and present to stress the value of character in order to maintain our liberty.

The second short story is called "I, Pencil". I used this story with my youth last year and we had a great discussion about all the hands that make things and how everyone affects the economy.

I'm interested in learning more about FEE. I have printed several articles from them and it seems worth learning more about.

[Peter Spung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminding us all: "If you do not govern yourself, you will be governed." -- Lawrence Reed. This small handbook would make a great hand out for educational events. Includes the infamous essay "I, Pencil" illustrating the miraculous achievements of free markets at work. And highlighting the hubris, over-reach and futility of central planning -- the progressive statist's repeated error.

[Eli Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro me dejo pensando sobre la integridad y como poder confiar en la libertad de los demas para que ellos tomen las mejores acciones.

Tambien me enfoco en que el problema de la libertad individual va intimamente atada a el nivel de compromiso moral que cada persona tiene y solo es util si se esta comprometido.

Me dejo tambien con la inquietud de fortalecer mi caracter y ayudar a otros a hacer lo mismo.

Me parece muy buen libro en general.

[Vunny Wijaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tertarik baca buku terbitan FEE ini, setelah mendengar sharing Lawrence W. Reed atau Larry secara langsung. "Kebebasan" itu sudah seharusnya dilandasi karakter yang kuat (tekad dll) dan pergerakkan menuju kesana dimulai dari diri masing-masing. Dalam buku ini Larry memberikan pemahaman yang menyegarkan serta contoh-contoh praktis. Dan yang paling penting bahasanya membumi hehe.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great quick read with the I pencil idea of how many people it takes to make a pencil and that reminds us of the error that begins when the government tries to control other people’s lives more and more.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many delicious quotations and ideas in this little booklet. Virtue is king!

[Vinicius Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. Worthwhile reading.

[Michael Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Lawrence W. Reed has long been one of my most-admired heroes, I was almost turned off by the title.
Good or bad or even rotten, every individual is entitled to liberty.
But I read this little book in its entirety, sitting outside under blue skies and enjoying a nice breeze.
The kind of day, in fact, even bad, even rotten people would enjoy. As long as they had the liberty to do so.
When I first saw the title, I immediately thought of this quote from John Adams: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Though I certainly will not generalize about the people of these United States, it is clear and obvious that the people of the governments, especially the central government, have not been either moral or religious. Look at how corrupt and degenerate they are, seemingly getting worse each generation.
But what about the people, even if we don't want to generalize?
First, one of Adams's errors is to equate "moral" and "religious." Many atheists and agnostics and people of other religions can be moral, and frequently more so than the most ardent and vocal of the unofficial U.S. religion.
(Despite all the official restrictions, prohibitions, and proscriptions, several of the states of the young Union actually gave tax moneys to particular churches!)
But Lawrence Reed does not say, in this excellent short read, that people must be religious to be worthy of liberty. What he says, much more intelligently and wisely than did John Adams, is that a people, and the individuals within a society, must have and must show character.
He cites an example of a Georgia high school that returned -- without any officials asking! -- its championship because the school, early in the season, accidentally allowed in the game -- for 45 seconds! -- a player who was not academically qualified to play.
(Telling a friend about this incident, he reminded me of the time the iconic Florida coach Bobby Bowden was confronted by some NCAA officials who told him he had to suspend for three games a couple of players. Bowden replied, "Too late! I've already suspended them for five games.")
Shortly after the debacle of the Bill Clinton presidency, some school systems instituted a program called "Character Counts."
Such programs, especially those aimed at young people, coupled with this book, published by the excellent Jameson Books, could, if spread widely enough, create such an environment of that morality and character that even old-party politicians might be more inclined toward human rights and individual liberty.
"Are We Good Enough for Liberty?" is short and inexpensive. It would be a great contribution by some business or some civic club or some philanthropist, some individual or group wanting freedom and a better society, to buy in bulk to distribute to students and, heck, grown-ups too.
Also included is the wonderful, even iconic, "I, Pencil," which is a short story by Leonard Read that should be shared among all young people, AND their parents and grand-parents.

[Lauren Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, short read. If you are expecting a thorough exposition on the connections between character and liberty, or even a direct answer to the title question, you might be disappointed, as other reviewers have expressed. But if you keep in mind that the main essay in this booklet was actually a commencement speech, the style makes sense and serves its purpose well. This is more inspirational than evidence-based. And I believe there is a place for that. The point of the vignettes of men and women of character in the booklet are there to fuel the imagination and desire for good character. I enjoyed reading this in one sitting, and I think my teenage son will enjoy it, as well.

[Andrew Olding · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a libertarian, I find it disappointing when libertarian texts are this poorly written. The only reason I rate this two stars instead of one is the inclusion of "I, Pencil" and a preceding section on its importance that covers "pretense of knowledge". The actual meat of the book lists examples of character and makes poor effort in explaining why those things are needed for a free society. Government is a catalyst for good men to show poor character in order to make personal gains. This book shows that.

[Alex Jin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I literally threw the book in the recycling bin when I was done.

This book is philosophically flawed, lacks compelling evidence and is nothing more than poorly extrapolated case studies of "great people with character." It never makes a substantial link between liberty and the free state; instead, it devolves into ideologically/politically motivated maxims.

The book may be short, but I still feel like I wasted way too much time by reading it.

[Christopher Teeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short book very long on messages to apply to your life every day.

[Stuart Anker · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Pessimists only disarm themselves and dispirit others.”

[Ken Gloeckner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I appreciate the main theme -- on the importance of character (integrity, humility, modesty, etc.) towards success, civility, and self-control -- the examples/anecdotes are somewhat confused and contradictory and lack historical awareness or philosophical understanding of the issue being discussed.

In one part, the author asserts that a moment in the 2006 movie, "Cinderella Man", where the father refutes his son from stealing a piece of sausage and that stealing is absolutely, under no circumstances, acceptable, as an example of a paragon of character. This is moral absolutism (no ends justifies the means) as explicit as it gets -- the family is starving to death and a child is scared for his life and the father would rather die than violate moral principles. Yet, only one or two anecdotes later, the story of a young man helping orphaned children and, in this pursuit, forges documentation is a moral relativism (the ends justifies the means). For the author, both these stories are used to illustrate principles of characters yet do not follow the same principles. Without elaborating, the author leaves ambiguity hanging over his definition of character.

In other parts, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are presented as individuals above reproach and are quoted out of context (one of Jefferson's quotations was interestingly truncated to leave out the famous passage "question with boldness even the existence of God" -- something the author apparently did not want to share amidst the various quotations from scripture). While these two are, undoubtedly, historically momentous individuals and praiseworthy in some aspects of their biographies, they are still only human beings with flaws and faults. It is through our own common sense of our humanity, I believe, that enables us to develop character -- not by deluding ourselves in a pursuit of idealism.

It's a brief read (took me about 40mins) and, though I agree with some of the message, it ends up being a bit hamfisted in it's presentation. Moreover, the underlying political argument being made is not one that can be glossed over this crudely.

[Sylvia Jeronimo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A super quick read. I don't think the author really made the connection between character and Liberty. Since it was a commencement speech, there is a lack of continuity that is frustrating. Still worth the 15 min it took to read, though.

[Mallary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Everyone should be required to read this- just my opinion 😊