Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Acton Media's new movie The Birth of Freedom. This movie has stronger religious overtones than last year's excellent production The Call of the Entrepreneur, but asks an important question: "How is freedom born?" It serves as a good reminder that freedom and prosperity are the anomalies (rather than the norm) in the history of the world. The incredible strides made in living standards over a relatively short period (again in terms of the history of men) is rather miraculous.

Among the many interesting points the movie makes, people are encouraged to understand the foundations of freedom. In an age of comfort and wealth, it is easy to forget or misunderstand the underpinnings of our prosperity. The principles that enable us to be both free and prosperous should be celebrated and studied for they are not so ingrained in our culture as to prohibit their erosion. Without a proper understanding and appreciation it is easy to make harmful decisions that threaten the structures that make us successful. We should all beware of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Considering policy and legislative decisions from the perspective of foundational principles requires taking a broad view and examining unintended and secondary affects, but is crucial in order to make choices consistent with long term liberty and prosperity.