Skousen CAFE: Adam Smith Reveals His Invisible Hand!

You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our free e-letter Skousen Investor Cafe, or you purchased a product or service from its publisher, Eagle Financial Publications. [Skousen's Investor CAFE] [Forecasts & Strategies]( [Fast Money Alert]( [Five Star Trader]( [Home Run Trader]( [TNT Trader]( Adam Smith Reveals His Invisible Hand! By Mark Skousen Editor, [Forecasts & Strategies]( 07/27/2023 Sponsored Content [Exposed: Dollar Endgame. If you have more than $2,500 in savings or stocks you must act now]( Our financial system is about to be transformed in a way that would’ve been unthinkable just a few years ago, and almost nobody is prepared for the chaos that follows. To show you everything you need to know about the FedNow system –I urge you to watch this controversial presentation with all the details. [Click here to find out what you need to do to prepare for this historic transformation.]( “Adam Smith was a radical and revolutionary in his time -- just as those of us who preach laissez faire in our time.” -- Milton Friedman In honor of Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, and his 300th birthday (born in 1723), I have attended and spoken at several conferences in the United States and the United Kingdom. At these conferences, I thought everyone would recognize Adam Smith as an advocate of limited government and laissez faire. (By “laissez faire,” I mean, “Stay out of our business. Leave us alone!”) But no! At last month’s conference in Glasgow University, where Smith taught moral philosophy, the majority of speakers claimed that the founder of economics supported redistribution schemes and heavy regulation of business. They saw him as a social democrat, an egalitarian and an interventionist, rather than an advocate of laissez faire. As Jesse Norman, a member of Parliament who has written a biography of the father of economics, writes, “Adam Smith was no advocate of laissez faire. He was no revolutionary.” Norman highlights Smith's criticism of businesspeople and his statement that they need to be constantly monitored and chastised. He largely ignores Smith’s favorable comments on commercial society in general. Admittedly, Smith did not use the French term "laissez faire" because he wanted to create his own model. The Fed's 'Wrecking Ball' [There's Only One Way To Dodge It] According to Top 20 Living Economist Dr. Mark Skousen... The Federal Reserve's moves are about to get even more dangerous... Forcing everyday investors to make panic-fueled decisions. To learn all about the Fed's "wrecking ball" -- and what Dr. Skousen is doing with his own personal investments -- [click here now.]( What Did Adam Smith Call His Model of Prosperity? But notice what he called his model, which he claimed would lead to “universal opulence which extends to the lowest ranks of the people.” He did not call it the "system of natural equality." He did not call it "the system of social justice." Rather, he called it the "system of natural LIBERTY," suggesting that economic freedom was his highest ideal. It's easy to forget this in reading his magnum opus. Adam Smith the ‘Laissez Faire’ Revolutionary I found quite a few statements in "The Wealth of Nations" that suggest Smith’s laissez faire views: Quote #1: “To prohibit a great people from making all they can from every part of their own produce, or of employing their stock and industry in the way that they judge most advantageous to themselves, is a manifest violation of the most sacred rights of mankind.” (p. 549). Quote #2: "Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man, or order of men." (p. 651). Interestingly, he says this right before delineating his four limited legitimate purposes of government. Quote #3: Finally, we have this quote from 1759: "Little else is required to carry a state to the highest level of opulence from the lowest barbarism, but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice." I quote all these statements in my book “The Making of Modern Economics,” but they are often ignored by the social democrats who want to justify Smith as an interventionist. It clearly shows him as an advocate of laissez faire MOST of the time. Do We Have ‘Easy’ Taxes Today? Let's take the phrase "easy taxes." What did Adam Smith mean by this? It meant that the tax rate is so low that everybody pays it without complaint. So, they see no need to engage in elaborate tax shelters or tax evasion schemes. They just pay the tax. Hong Kong is a perfect example of "easy taxes." The income tax rate goes up to 16.5% and does not go higher. Who would engage in tax shelters or trusts to avoid it? The same thing occurred in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. At first, the Russian government imposed high progressive taxation on Russians, and the wealthy Russians refused to pay. They engaged in all kinds of tax evasion schemes. So, the Russian government wisely replaced the progressive tax with a flat 13% rate, and it worked. Wealthy Russians started paying income taxes. Smith also advocated “easy taxes” on import duties to solve the smuggling problem in Britain. In “The Wealth of Nations,” he urged Britain to sharply cut its tariffs on imported tea. In 1784, following Smith’s advice, William Pitt the Younger did exactly that, cutting the tea duty from 119% to 12.5%. Smuggling ended, and revenues from the tariff actually rose. The Laffer Curve worked! Do we have easy taxes today? Definitely not. When marginal income tax rates exceed 50%, many wealthy Americans engage in all kinds of schemes to avoid taxes. Governments would collect more taxes if they just imposed an "easy" tax to pay (under 20%). [Traders Choose A.I. to Master Volatility]( We're in a critical phase of the markets. And today we’ll be going over how to make the most of this opportune time. There are only a few spots left, so make sure you sign up right now to join the [Free Live A.I. Stock Market Training.]( A Highly Respected Economist Confirms Adam Smith’s Laissez Faire Model I recently discovered the lecture notes of Wesley Mitchell, the Columbia professor who was known as the man “with no theory.” He founded the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), the most respected economic research institution today. Professor Mitchell was determined to develop a non-biased approach to economics. In 1934, during the Great Depression, he taught a course in the history of economic thought. In his first class, he taught that Smith was a radical advocating laissez faire. I was so taken with his lecture notes that I had my assistant (Ned Piplovic) edit Mitchell's 80 pages and then have them reprinted by the Adam Smith Institute in London. You can read them [here](. Here's a summary of what he said: “You see how bold and sweeping that argument is from Adam Smith’s eyes… it is evident, in his own local situation, [that man] is a better judge of where his economic interest lies than any statesman could be. Therefore, the individual will get on best if he is left alone by the government… This is the great argument for laissez faire.” ‘Adam Smith as Hero: The Single Best Book in Economics Today’ Adam Smith and his “system of natural liberty” are the heroes of my book, “The Making of Modern Economics,” the history of the great economic thinkers. It’s now in its fourth edition and published by Routledge. Every economist is judged by whether they sought to improve upon the “House that Adam Smith Built” (French laissez-faire, Austrian, Chicago and Supply-Side schools) or wanted to tear it down and build their own new model (Marxists, Keynesians, socialists). I have chapters on each school of thought. To find out what’s in each chapter, go [here](. John Mackey, the former CEO of Whole Foods Market, says, “Mark’s book is fun to read on every page. I’ve read it three times, and recommend it to all my friends.” Greg Feirman, manager of Top Gun Financial writes: “Skousen is a brilliant and prolific economist as well as writer of a popular financial newsletter, Forecasts & Strategies, for decades now. Because of his interest in financial markets, Skousen is an economist obsessed with the real-world applicability of his economic ideas. He has written over 20 books, including “The Making of Modern Economics”, the best history of modern economics around.” The late, great William F. Buckley, Jr., wrote, “I champion Skousen’s book to everyone. I keep it by my bedside and refer to it often. An absolutely ideal gift for college students.” And Richard Rahn states, “Mark Skousen has produced the single best book on virtually all of those who have had a significant impact in economics. It’s a delight to read cover to cover.” Routledge and Amazon charge over $50 for my book, “The Making of Modern Economics.” But I offer a major discount -- only $35 -- at my website, [www.skousenbooks.com](. I autograph each copy and mail it for no additional charge if mailed inside the United States. Special Bonus: If you order my book, I’ll include, at no extra charge, my popular essay, “The Economics of Life Made Simple.” This essay has been called by a subscriber as “the best brief in economics I’ve ever read.” Last Chance to Get the Super 'Early Bird' Price for Next Year’s FreedomFest 2024 in Vegas “FreedomFest is THE place to meet, greet, network, interview, learn and hear the pulse of the liberty movement. It is a celebration of our progress towards encouraging and effectively building a free society in our lifetime.” -- Robert Mish, Mish International, Inc. Next year’s big show will be back in Las Vegas at the Mirage Hotel, which is being converted into the brand new Hard Rock Café Resort. Dates are July 10-13, 2024, a few days before the Republican National Convention. Perfect timing! Our theme is appropriate for 2024, an important election year: “Are We Entering a Brave New World?” based on the 1932 novel by Aldous Huxley. How do we cope with the dangers of artificial intelligence (AI), out-of-control debt, possible world war and woke culture? Find out next year! Great news: I’m happy to announce that Tom Woods, host of the popular Tom Woods Show, has confirmed he will be joining us for the first time in 10 years at FreedomFest. More celebrity speakers will be announced soon. I talked to Senator Rand Paul’s assistant, who told me the senator’s next book will be a blockbuster, an expose on COVID-19 and Dr. Fauci. He hopes to speak on this topic (we hope to confirm his speaking by early next year). Super 'Early Bird' Discount for My Subscribers Hundreds have already signed up for next year’s conference. We are offering a special “super low” price if you want to join us. Our early bird special is $397, but if you sign up by July 31, the price is only $327 per person. To sign up, go to [www.freedomfestvegas.com](, or call Hayley at 1-855-850-3733, ext 201, or email her at hayley@freedomfest.com and include your telephone number. P.S. Join my Eagle colleagues and me on an incredible cruise! We set sail on Dec. 4 for 16 days, enjoying a memorable journey that combines fascinating history, vibrant culture and picturesque scenery. Hear seminars on the days we are cruising from one destination to another, as well as dine with members of the Eagle team. Places we’ll visit include Mexico, Belize, Panama, Ecuador and more! [Click here]( now for the details. Good Investing, AEIOU, [Mark Skousen] Mark Skousen Doti-Spogli Endowed Chair of Free Enterprise, Chapman University [Wikipedia]( [Newsletter and trading services]( [Personal website]( [FreedomFest]( [You Blew It!] Larry Elder on Minority Advances in the United States By Mark Skousen Editor, [Forecasts & Strategies]( In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In 1968, the night before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, he gave his second most famous speech, “I Have Been to the Mountain Top and Seen the Promised Land.” At FreedomFest’s Saturday night banquet in Memphis on July 15, 2023, I asked Larry Elder to give a talk about racism today compared to MLK’s time in the 1960s. Elder gave an eloquent speech on how race relations have vastly improved. The highlight of his talk was this statement: “In 1966, in an interview with the BBC, Martin Luther King Jr. expressed astonishment at the pace of change for black Americans since the passage of the Civil Rights Act, and predicted that there may be a black president in 40 years. Right on cue, Barack Obama was elected in 2008. “ “MLK didn’t say that we’d have black mayors in the three largest cities in America (New York, Los Angeles and Chicago) and we did. He didn’t say that one of the Confederate states would elect a black governor (Virginia), and they did. He didn’t say that we’d have a black CEO of McDonald’s or a black president of the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. He didn’t say that the percentage of blacks in the U.S. House of Representatives would reflect the percentage of black Americans overall, and it does. “MLK didn’t say any of that, he said ‘President,’ meaning that at such a peak of achievement his dream of a society where people are evaluated on content of character would be realized to the fullest extent possible.” Despite all the talk of “systematic racism,” the fact is that the vast majority of Americans now live up to MLK’s ideal -- that every person should be “judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Larry Elder embodies that optimism. He is running for president of the United States. I’ve donated to his [campaign]( and I recommend you do the same. About Mark Skousen, Ph.D.: [Mark Skousen]Mark Skousen is an investment advisor, professional economist, university professor, author of more than 20 books, and founder of the annual FreedomFest conference. 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