Yet most Communist leaders were no less interested than capitalist leaders in providing a better life for their constituents. As a result, the Communist nations had an abundance of laws, but as it turned out, never of food, clothing and shelter. The problem was that Communism identified the public good with ever greater government authority. By contrast, the market-oriented countries achieved much more good for the people by following an opposite principle, equating the public interest with individual freedom. Capitalist countries such as the United States rely on individual ingenuity and productivity to improve and advance human society.
History confirms that free minds, hearts, and bodies account for the greatest societal achievements.
Unfortunately, lawmakers in the former Communist countries may be ignoring this great lesson. Consider, for example, the recommendations of the Ukrainian Parliament's Constitutional Commission. The proposed constitution would thus impose serious regulatory and monetary restraints on the private sector as well as on the political process. These controls are not consistent with aspirations for freedom and abundance. They rely on the erroneous idea that people are dependent on government benevolence for their well-being.