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Forbes Media Chairman Steve Forbes discusses the presidential campaign and economy.
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So close.
Joining me now is the chairman and editor in chief of Forbes media.
In the author of freedom but manifesto -- markets are moral and big government isn't Steve Forbes.
-- -- you what your message to the it to the GOP how're they gonna win this.
By focusing.
On issues making clear to the nation I think the nation already senses.
That this is a choice between two stark directions.
Where we're gonna go in the future.
-- government or free markets Romney I think is finally beginning in his voice on -- Paul Ryan is always had a Barack Obama's made it clear -- that statement you didn't build -- where he believes the government should go the economy should go the country should go -- have that stark choice.
He also headed another state -- and sometimes these statements released stayed on they like you didn't build it.
The let's spread the wealth around the Joe The Plumber comment that he gave Joe The Plumber was picked up by microphones.
And yet people still voted form but that was a different election.
It was he was seen as -- get challenger to an economy that was in very serious trouble at the time.
But it's a different situation today when you've been a manager in effect for four years and the team is still in the bottom of the leak.
And in terms of wealth creation.
The whole thing that they don't understand.
Is that wealth is created by free market you know big government type choice for trade government as compassionate.
Moral out to help the little guy may be inefficient but their hearts in the right place it's actually free markets that are moral you don't succeed in a free market unless you.
Create something provide something that somebody else wants or needs of -- aren't you aren't you worried about the fact that what has been predicted for a long time.
Is more more dependency upon government to the point where we are today in May be worse in the future.
Well this is what big governments all about it's about expanding their own interest about to meeting their own needs not those of the people.
So if you expanded government bureaucracy you don't pay a price -- But but you talked is I get calls on the radio show and they say but.
Don't take my benefit away or -- really really really need food stamps and you know I need I can't.
I can't get along without them and I asked him a few -- -- -- flat screen TV to they have they have.
For right and then there's the thing is we're not talking about taking away safety -- were -- about expanding the economy Syria have less need for safety net.
And stronger safety nets in the future.
It's about abundance free markets take something like cellphones you know thirty years ago big as a shoe box.
Weighed several pounds had a thirty minute battery life and cost 3995.
Dollars today they're almost given away in some of these phone plans.
Five billion around the world Matthew mentioned government gone and -- everyone should have a cell -- thirty years ago today that still be as big as a shoe box cost 101000 dollars.
The government be complaining back pretty self.
Only -- is fact that cellphone stories are great when because beat because of the taking away -- breaking up AT&T letting letting all these bell companies go out there and compete get led to this.
Yet getting the government out of the way we have more choice and why in the world can we do -- -- hope this comes up the campaign one world can we do the same thing in health care.
Why we having more scarcity instead of abundance because of government involvement.
And it wasn't deliberate but it came out of World War II.
Say have a situation today where if you go to a doctor or hospital you ask in advance what it cost.
They haven't Stevie strange look at -- one of two things economies are the uninsured or your lunatic yeah what's the price to yulia -- Mexico or restaurant asking for a bottle -- -- what it cost left let Medicare Medicaid or or.
-- -- -- Well -- if you know use you sound like.
Milton Friedman I'm gonna be a big compliment they're too because you know he talked about the fact that nothing greater grand ever came from a government program.
And all came from somebody's as some it entrepreneur or somewhere who came up with some great ideas and -- build it into a great plan.
But how do you convince.
Joseph and Jane America.
They're they're gonna try to make a decision on November 6 and I'm puzzled that it's this close with the economy being this bad but it is well it.
It's close because people really don't know governor Romney yet they're just learning about representative Ryan we saw the same thing in 1980.
Our member on -- before you -- born.
Garcia and in 1980 the election was considered very very close right up to the end Ronald Reagan on one debate with Jimmy Carter game over but until mid October when so there's going to be squeaker.
People didn't know Ronald Reagan the challenger.
I think starting with the convention and then with the debates is they get to know Romney did he's not to have grown horns out of his -- and things like that.
And -- very reaganesque in his approach positive approach optimistic approach about the future.
I think they will win and the thing to care for people to keep in mind in terms of benefits and again benefits and the like.
You get more abundance you get more things in life when you have free markets because again you don't succeed unless you provide something that somebody else want.
Governments about -- taken from human given to somebody else.
Yet they indeed the of the problem with all this those still goes back I still worry about the fact that chronic.
-- teach basic economics I guess.
To the general populace and -- it up until this point I've always believed.
That you are successful not by saying buy my product because the other guys is worse that never works and it's buy my product because here are the benefits to you.
That works but in this particular case I think a lot of people are going.
I'm not so sure about governor Romney may -- I don't know well or maybe I do know wall -- -- were I don't like him.
But I know that I don't want to reelect this guy is he's tried and it hasn't worked so it's been is it going to be -- vote.
Against Obama.
-- -- -- It's going to be both that the economy and been doing well and -- -- was seen as having successful policies and principles would have been game over.
About and the case of governor Romney he began has begun to find his voice especially when that famous statement made by president bombing didn't build that.
He finally -- -- voice about free markets means freedom there's about election between freedom and big government.
And -- where should the country go and again it's about an opportunity for innovation.
An opportunity to invent take risks in your successes every once it says Steve Jobs became a billionaire.
But he also created products and and enhance the standard of living of hundreds of millions of people around the world.
What about the congressman -- can comment.
The the Republican.
Problem with women it is not something new it's been around for long time what weren't women tend to go more Democrat and Republican.
Well I think the fact the party who will.
Really aboard down on -- trying to get him out of the race speaks of the fact that he's a true true out liar and in terms of appealing to voters instead of trying to do is size segment.
Trying to do little specific messages you know give you more this some more of that.
I think people want -- cents do you believe in an expansive opportunity.
And do you believe in safety nets we haven't in full dimension of government -- agriculture we have no word obesity would all be starving.
As a government says we're here to help you -- -- we're gonna grow the food for you.
Why can't we do the same thing in health care -- patients in charge have effective safety nets have abundance.
And and that is we all come out ahead it's it's fascinating -- -- the only thing that you and I.
By differently than everything else we buy our auto insurance we we choose and select why can't we do this thing with with help but anyway I'm talking to the choir.
All the always.
Always -- to see enough good to say you think so much for covered by.
