Christmas as the Foundation of American Liberty and Free Enterprise

On December 28, 2022, Kim Monson presents a special Christmas week broadcast exploring the foundations of American liberty through two compelling conversations. Discovery Institute senior fellow Scott Powell examines how Christianity shaped Western civilization and America’s founding, while First American State Bank CEO Jay Davidson makes the case for Austrian economics and free enterprise as bulwarks against government overreach.

Christianity’s Role in Shaping Western Civilization

Start listening at 2:01 – Hour 1

Scott Powell traces the historical impact of Christ’s birth on human civilization, arguing that Jesus remains the most historically verifiable figure from ancient times. Powell notes that Christ’s influence was so profound that it literally divided history into BC and AD, a reference system accepted even by non-Christian cultures worldwide. He explains how Christianity fueled not only spiritual transformation but also the Renaissance, the scientific revolution, and the age of exploration.

Powell emphasizes that the founding fathers, whom he describes as 95% Christian in their beliefs, drew upon biblical principles to create America’s governing documents. Their extraordinary learning, rooted in faith and classical education, enabled them to frame the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Powell argues this achievement surpassed anything accomplished in ancient Athens, Rome, or Renaissance Florence.

The conversation turns to modern challenges facing Christian values, with Powell identifying a systematic inversion of traditional principles. He cites examples ranging from the erosion of child protection to the replacement of merit with tribal identity politics. Despite these challenges, Powell expresses optimism that persecution historically strengthens rather than weakens Christianity.

“Christmas is the greatest and most amazing story ever told. And the best news is that everybody can be a participant without merit or any preconditions, because the Savior, Jesus, came into the world for broken people and sinners like you and me.”

Scott Powell, Senior Fellow, Discovery Institute

Austrian Economics and the Defense of Individual Freedom

Start listening at 59:19 – Hour 2

Jay Davidson contrasts the Austrian School of Economics with Keynesian approaches that dominate current Federal Reserve policy. He traces the Austrian school’s lineage from Ludwig von Mises through F.A. Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom” to Milton Friedman’s advisory role under President Reagan. Davidson argues that capitalism represents the antithesis of government control, defining free trade as transactions between willing buyers and sellers without outside coercion.

Davidson connects property rights to America’s founding principles, noting that the original language of the Declaration referenced the right to “life, liberty, and ownership of property.” He argues that capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system in history, pointing out that even today’s poor live better than kings did a thousand years ago thanks to free enterprise.

The discussion addresses accusations of “greedy capitalism” head-on. Davidson argues that enlightened self-interest actually promotes fair dealing, since businesses benefit from repeat customers rather than one-time exploitation. He warns that current government spending represents control mechanisms that transfer wealth from individuals to inefficient bureaucracies, ultimately leading toward the serfdom that Hayek warned about.

“Free trade is a willing buyer and a willing seller agreeing on a transaction without outside coercion. That’s the basis of capitalism. That’s the basis of our nation.”

Jay Davidson, CEO and Founder, First American State Bank