The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire

Did J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie really make their fortunes as “Robber Barons” exploiting the common man? Was the Great Depression really caused by greedy businessmen and investors? Did the socialist Soviet Union actually surpass America‘s scientific and technological achievements?

Today, with Western Civilization under attack by an alliance of Middle Eastern Islamists and Western leftists, there has never been a more critical time for everyone to learn the truth about the political-economic system–capitalism–responsible for the greatest freedom and prosperity of mankind’s history. If you think you understand the capitalist system or believe it doesn’t impact your daily life, you need to think again.

In his new book, The Capitalist Manifesto: The Historic, Economic and Philosophic Case for Laissez-Faire, Dr. Andrew Bernstein reveals that our common views of capitalism are often egregiously divergent from the truth. He weaves principles from history, economics and philosophy into an engaging chronicle that, like a well-plotted thriller, presents the inspiring story of many of history’s most accomplished heroes.

He shows that few scientific or technological advances were made in the centuries leading up to the 1700’s. People suffered interminably through incessant wars, famines, plagues and crushing poverty.

In the 18^th century, most societies were ruled by monarchies and brutal tyrannies similar to those of current Third World nations. But mankind made immense progress during the 18^th century Enlightenment. The great thinkers of that era recognized that when men were free to think and act in their own interest–i.e., when freedom and capitalism prevailed–they were able to use their minds to bring staggering, unprecedented advance. From the steam engine to the principles of the U.S. Constitution to the ensuing electric light and telephone, the liberated human brain power made possible by the freedom of the capitalist system transformed men’s lives.

It was this ideology of individual rights that was responsible for creating the British Industrial Revolution. According to Dr. Bernstein’s extensive research, this era has long been mischaracterized as a time when people were forced to leave their “idyllic” cottage lives to work in the “de-humanizing” factories. Although the work may have been grueling compared to today’s standards, it was the factories’ enormous productivity that enabled millions of ordinary human beings, for the first time in history, to achieve vastly higher living standards. Predictably, such rising standards of living led to diminishing mortality rates, increasing life expectancies, and a 19th century tripling of the population.

America‘s Founding Fathers, influenced by Enlightenment ideals, created history’s first system of individual rights, limited Constitutional government and political-economic liberty. The resulting freedom of the American system led to an explosion of technological advance in the 19th century.

In order to accurately characterize the essence of the 19th century’s second half, Dr. Bernstein has jettisoned the misconceived “Gilded Age” designation. Reflecting the technological advance wrought by such monumental geniuses as Edison, Bell and the Wright brothers–and the industrial output created by such productive giants as Carnegie, Rockefeller and Morgan–he has re-dubbed the era: the Inventive Period.

Drawing from the unprecedented freedom and scientific/technological advance delivered by capitalism, Bernstein identifies for the first time the root explanatory principle: capitalism is the system of the mind.