There is no economy: what your freedom means

 

 

William Graham Sumner (1840-1905), 1902 portrait. (Credit: Public Domain)

Today, October 30, 2025, is the 185th anniversary of William Graham Sumner's birth. The longtime Yale professor taught the first sociology class in North America and was a leading anti-imperialist and proponent of free trade in the late 19th century.

In 1888, he wrote:

"Now free trade is not a theory in any sense of the word. It is only a mode of liberty; one form of the assault (and therefore negative) which the expanding intelligence of the present is making on the trammels which it has inherited from the past. … Free trade is a revolt, a conflict, a reform, a reaction and recuperation of the body politic, just as free conscience, free worship, free speech, free press, and free soil have been. It is in no sense a theory."

Sumner frames the struggle for free trade as part of the struggle for freedom itself. But for some reason, people have come to believe, or have been raised to think, that something that would be perfectly fine if no money changed hands should suddenly be licensed, regulated, taxed, or prohibited if someone purchases it from another. And even more so if the exchange crosses a political border. If the nearest town that can provide me with food and supplies is close by but in another country, politicians in my country will claim that purchasing from there will hurt "the economy."

But there is no "economy" to hurt. 

If I don't buy anything at all from anyone, the "economy" can't be hurt.

Just like if I go to one church instead of another, or don't go at all, "religion" can't be hurt.

Just like if I read gossip but never serious news, or don't read at all, "journalism" can't be hurt

Just like if I only watch true crime shows and never go to the ballet, opera, or museum, "culture" can't be hurt.

We've recognized in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution that the federal government has no business in the worlds of religion and ideas. The federal government, therefore, is not responsible for our churches and media organizations.

We've seen nation-states that have organized religion and persecuted religion. We have witnessed nation-states run newspapers and television stations, censoring and crushing their rivals. 

The benefit of freedom in these matters is self-evident. We don't say, "Freedom of the press sounds nice in theory, but does it work?" We don't say, "Freedom of religion sounds nice in theory, but does it work?"

Freedom is what people seek, struggle for, and fight for when they don't have it or are in danger of losing it. What does it even mean to say, "Does freedom work?" Freedom is a self-evident good. If freedom doesn't work, then "The Good" - goodness itself - doesn't work, which means nothing works.

"Free trade sounds nice in theory, but…" But nothing. Freedom is good.

"Free markets might work in theory, but…" But nothing. Freedom is good.

"But we don't have free markets; we have rigged markets. Therefore, we must…"  make them freer. What won't work is to rig them even further with even more taxes, licenses, regulations, and prohibitions in the hopes of providing more equitable outcomes. Fairness is only found in freedom for all.

The government has no business collecting data on church attendance or how often people read newspapers, because religion and the press aren't its business. Likewise, business isn't the government's business either. There is no "gross domestic product" to count, and no trade deficit to worry about. The unemployment rate? Why should that be a concern? It could be addressed by allowing people to work and earn as they see fit. You know, freedom.

Sumner recognized that the freedom to trade and earn a living is as essential as freedom in the spiritual and intellectual realms. Freedom's not a theory, it's life seeking to express itself. And it's good.

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James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe) and JL Cells (subscribe). Thank you for your subscriptions and support! You can contact James for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.