Rather by accident, I was researching Estonia, expecting to learn a thing or two about a crappy little ex-Soviet hell hole.
I was wrong.
This is an amazing talk with Mart Laar, Former Prime Minister of Estonia.
Why does this matter?
Because Estonia was an early escapee of Soviet Communism inspired to greatness by Reagan… declaring independence in 1988, and in the 90’s they adopted Friedman’s economic theories, an American conservative/libertarian economist from the Hayek camp.
These moves toward the principles of Regan, Hayek and Friedman have made little Estonia a shocking economic powerhouse among the eastern bloc countries… even the European Union.
In the 90’s they adopted a *FLAT TAX*, and the tax rate has been steadily going down… from 26% to a mere 21%.
Tax rates DOWN? Across the board? YES! *AND* they have virtually NO DEBT (the least in the EU at only 7% GDP), a balanced budget, and have a strong and growing economy, one of the freest economies in the world.
Listen to this man… he lived it. He proved it.
You will NEVER learn this in an American Public school. You will NEVER hear this from the American drive-by media.
America is in a hole. If we’re not smart enough to USE EXISTING EXAMPLES to dig ourselves out, especially when the examples are based on principles advanced generations before IN America, we deserve to fall. Hard.
When former communists use libertarian principles to achieve astounding success, and instead we choose proven failed progressive philosophies that bring only debt, poverty, and failure…. Is the choice really that hard?
You should find this interesting, and inspiring.
While Californians slept… and liberals generally, Reagan changed lives… anywhere people would listen. Estonia did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlA8KTvPq04
M