Steve Jobs and Barney Frank are very different men: Jobs is a tech-savvy entrepreneur; Frank is a stodgy politician. Jobs is West coast; Frank is East coast. Jobs is easy to like; Frank is easy to loathe. But the differences go beyond the obvious.
Steve Jobs creates delightful products that consumers willingly and eagerly buy. Barney Frank issues edicts and demands that individuals must grudgingly obey. Jobs offers products that make our lives better. Frank “offers” rules that make our lives more difficult. Jobs allows us to buy his products voluntarily. Frank forces us to accept his “products.”
Steve Jobs and Barney Frank represent two different views of America. Jobs does not acquire his customers by force, but by offering them something that they want or need. Those who do not want his products do not have to buy them. In contrast, Frank imposes his edicts by force. Those who believe that his “products” will cause them harm have no choice in the matter. Those who do not like what Jobs offers can simply refuse to buy his products. Those who do not like what Frank offers can go to jail.
These are the two alternatives facing America: a nation “ruled” by entrepreneurs or a nation ruled by politicians. We face the choice between being able to choose what is best for our own lives, or being compelled to live as an elite group of curmudgeons deem best for us. This is the choice facing America: voluntary trade to mutual benefit, or being forced to live as others dictate. The choice is freedom or government control of our lives.
Steve Jobs leaves you free to live and act as you judge best for your life. Certainly, he does everything he can to get you to give your money to him–voluntarily. Barney Frank also wants your money, but he is willing to use coercion to obtain it. Jobs offers value; Frank offers fear and threats. If you don’t believe me, consider this: What happens when you don’t act as Steve Jobs would like you to? And what happens when you don’t act as Barney Frank would like you to?
