“Our solution does not claim that everyone can be equally well-off. Some people will always be richer that others, and therefore some will be relatively poorer. But the solution we propose explains practical steps that any poor nation can take. These steps will lead the nation out of poverty in the nation to a better standard of living. This solution will permanently open opportunities for even the very poor to gain increasing prosperity” (Wayne Gruden and Barry Asmus, “THE POVERTY OF NATION,2013)
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Grudem and Asmus pointed out that their solution is not new. That “many parts of it have already been put into practice in nation after nation over the last 240 years with amazing results.” That “it can still bring remarkable results in every poor nation today.”
Their solution focuses on four areas of concern namely: 1) The Nation’s Economic System, 2) The Nation’s Government, 3) The Nation’s Freedom, and 4) The Nation’s Values. They listed down 78 “factors that will enable a nation to overcome poverty”. These factors are distributed into the 4 areas of concern as follows: Under the Nation’s Economic System – 6 Factors; under the Nation’s Government – 17 Factors; under the Nation’s Freedom – 20 Factors; and under the Nation’s Values – 35 Factors.
Part 1 of this article will cover the 3 areas of concern with a total of 43 factors.
“1. The Nation’s Economic Systems
The nation has a free market economy.
The nation has a widespread private ownership of property.
The nation has an easy and quick process for people to gain documented, legal binding ownerships of property.
The nation maintains a stable currency.
The nation has relatively low tax rates.
The nation is annually improving its score on an international index of economic freedom.
“2. The Nation’s Government
2.1 Every person’s in the nation is equally accountable to the laws
(rich and poor alike).
2.2 The nation’s courts show no favoritism or bias, but enforce justice impartially.
2.3 Bribery and corruption are rare in government offices, and
2.4 they are quickly punished when discovered.
2.5 Then nation’s government has adequate power to maintain governmental
stability and to prevent crime.
2.6 There are adequate limits on the powers of the nation’s government so that
personal freedoms are protected.
2.7 The powers of the government are clearly separated between national,
regional, and local level, and between different branches at each level.
2.8 The government is accountable to the people through regular, fair, open
Elections and through freedom of the press and free access to information
about governmental activities.
2.9 The government adequately protects citizens against crime.
2.10 The government adequately protects citizens against epidemic of disease.
2.11 The nation’s legal system adequately protects people and businesses against
violation of contracts.
2.12 The nation’s legal system adequately protects against violation of patents and
copyrights.
2.13 The government effectively protects the nation against foreign invasion.
2.14 The government avoids useless wars of conquest against other nations.
2.15 The nation’s laws protect the country against destruction of its environment.
2.16 The nation requires universal education of children up to a level where
people are able to earn a living and contribute positively to society.
2.17 The nation’s laws protect and give some economic incentives to stable
family structures
2.18 The nation’s laws protect freedom of religion for all religions groups and
give some benefits to religions generally.
“3 The Nation’s Freedoms.
3.1 Everyone in the nation has freedom to own property.
3.2 Everyone in the nation has freedom to buy and sell (legitimate)
goods and services so that there are no protected monopolies.
3.3 Everyone in the nation has freedom to travel and transport (leget)
goods anywhere within the nation.
3.4 Everyone in the nation has freedom to relocate anywhere within the nation.
3.5 Everyone in the nation has freedom to trade with other countries without
dealing with other quotas or tariffs.
3.6 Everyone in the nation has freedom to start and register a business quickly
and inexpensive.
3.7 Everyone in the nation has freedom from expensive and burdensome
government regulations.
3.8 Everyone in the nation has freedom from demands for bribes.
3.9 Everyone in the nation has freedom to work in whatever job he or she
chooses.
3.10 Every woman in the nation has freedom to be rewarded for his or her work
at a level that motivates good job performance.
3.11 Every employer has freedom to hire and fire employees based on job
performance and changing business cycles.
3.12 Every employer in the nation has freedom to hire and promote employees
based on merits, regardless of family connection or personal relationships.
3.13 Everyone in the nation has freedom to use the earth’s resources.
3.14 Everyone in the nation has freedom to change and adopt newer, more effects
means of work and production.
3.15 Everyone in the nation has freedom to access useful knowledge,
inventions, and technological developments.
3.16 Everyone in the nation has freedom to be educated.
3.17 Every woman in the nation has the same educational, economic and
political freedoms as man.
3.18 Everyone in the nation, from every national, religions, social and ethnic
origin, has the same educational, economic and political freedoms as those
from other backgrounds.
3.19 Everyone in the nation has freedoms to move upward in social and
economic status.
3.20 Everyone in the nation has freedom to become wealthy by legal means.
(to be continued)
