Ancient wisdom

Taoism is famous for its principle of wu wei, which translates as "actionless action," or "acting by not-acting." Maybe the roots of the libertarian, free-market view go back a very long ways:

Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tzu (c. 500 BC)

Chapter 57:
If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.

The more prohibitions the government has,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons it has,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies it offers,
the less self-reliant people will be.

Therefore the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and people become prosperous.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes common as grass.

Chapter 72:
When people no longer trust themselves,
they begin to depend upon authority.

Therefore the Master steps back
so that people won't be confused.
He teaches without a teaching,
so that people will have nothing to learn.


Chapter 75:

When taxes are too high,
people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive,
people lose their spirit.

Act for the people's benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone.