The Times

If you don't know what makes America worth the risk of life itself... Ask an alien.

There are 6-8 million illegal aliens in the United States and another 500,000 to 1,000,000 arrive every year. They cross the waters in risky sailboats, without sufficient water, suffering from exposure and malnutrition. Some don't make it. And for those who do, jail and likely deportation awaits them. For some, life in an American jail is superior to an unrestrained life in their own country. It is not an oversimplification to state that our economic system of free enterprise is what continues to make the American dream the envy of people everywhere in the world and a reality for those of us who are fortunate enough to be citizens. Surprisingly, a survey among U.S. citizens — especially young people — showed that a shocking majority don't understand business, profit, supply and demand. Consumers don't understand how competition is a s[?]f-regulating protection for consumers nor do they understand the great influence that they themselves can exert in stabilizing prices. As a matter of fact, mere ignorance of the free enterprise system is not as shocking as is the fact that so many young people are downright hostile to business. There doesn't happen to be a perfect system. Yet few people enjoying capitalism and free enterprise are at all motivated to flee this country for a communist, socialist or totalitarian form of government. And the peoples of these countries do risk life itself to escape. They are willing to settle for the most humble job and the lowest pay — to begin anew at the very bottom. And yet there is a great irony in this. Even as country after country finds its economy struggling under socialism; yet the clamor everywhere is that the only solution is more socialism. Those countries which cling to free enterprise flourish but still the outcry for socialism is echoed everywhere, even in the citadels of democracy where legislators decide the limitations and flexibility of the economy. It is interesting that the Soviet Union, in the darkest days of socialist failure under Lenin, was compelled to inaugurate a "New Economic Policy" — a limited form of capitalism under a different name. The results were electric and The Soviet Union began to enjoy a new prosperity. But once the crisis had ended, Lenin and his successors returned to strict socialism. Russia, with fertile grain-producing lands, must import wheat heavily to avoid famine. With vast natural resources, the Soviet standard of living has remained bleak. Consumer goods are scarce and of poor quality and priced high. Their distribution system is among the worst in the world. Similar examples of failure can be drawn from the sad experiences of England. "African socialism" and "Arab socialism" are synonyms for institutionalized and government-imposed poverty. The National Federation of Independent Business has compiled some statistics to help illustrate the productivity of America's economic system. After working for five minutes, you will have earned enough money to buy a loaf of bread. Your Soviet counterpart works 17 minutes for a loaf of bread. And even though the Soviet Union imports sugar from Cuba and vodka is the national liquor, neither product is readily available to the average Russian citizen. It takes a Russian 45 minutes of labor for a pound of sugar and more than four hours for a fifth of vodka. An American worker, by comparison, can afford sugar after three minutes of work and a fifth of vodka after an hour's labor. Now business leaders everywhere see the need for communicating long and loud about the advantages of a profit-motivated, free enterprise system. Alcoa's board chairman John Harper lays it on the line like this: "Business must generate new and more effective ways to communicate. We must begin in the schools. We must tell factory workers as well as students. Our words must reach deep into the core city and out into the rural heartland of America. We must reach government officials, mechanics, clerks and housewives. "We must face our critics on whatever level we find them. If they make a speech, we must make another. If they draft an article, we must draw up a rebuttal. If they write a letter to the editor, we must respond. "'We must carry on what might be called "an inventory of accomplishment' in much the same way we inventory goods in our storerooms. "We must give business a voice — and a truthful, powerful voice' — from every available podium." Harper states in outlining a task that he feels is compellingly urgent. If you would like to know more about our economic system of free enterprise, what makes our economy work, how our economy fits together and what our economy provides, plus a listing of economic choices, you can obtain a free copy of the booklet "The American Economic System... and your part in it." from the offices of this newspaper. Supply is limited. The American Economic System... and your part in it. You should know as much or more about this country's economic advantages as the average alien. At no risk whatsoever. COPYRIGHT © 1977 KEY NEWSPAPER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMMING THIS EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COOPERATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONCERNED PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS WHO ARE STRIVING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE. JULIO ABISLAIMAN, Vice Pres. Riviera Jewelers CARLOS J. ARBOLEYA, Pres. Barnett Bank of Westchester N.A. JESS QUESADA Andalusia Bake Shop WILLIAM BAGWELL, Pres. Miami Safe and Lock Inc. M. H. FARNSWORTH, Chairman International Corporate Services Ltd. CURTIS BLANK Co-owner Cafe Chauveron, Inc. JOHN C. BROCKWAY, Pres. Bill Ussery Motors, Inc. GLEN ALLEN BUFF GUY C. CARMICHAEL; JR. Pres. Crow, Pope & Land of Florida, Inc. G. HERNANDEZ-CARTAYA Chairman of the Board W F C Group C. DeWITT COFFMAN, Pres. The Coffman Corporation Hotel Consultants MARVIN S. CONE, Director Deerborne School JAMES E. DOWNS, Pres., Lennor & Klein Jewelers, Inc. HOWARD R. DOWNES Chairman of the Board The Dominion, Companies EUGENE F. STREWS, Pres. Fidelity National Bank of South Miami GENERAL WATERWORKS South Florida Division WOLF HANAU, President Les Jardins Restaurant RALPH JENSEN, Pres. Continental Travel, Inc. M. "DICK" JONES, Pres. Catalina Aquatech Pools, Inc. KENNETH E. KAMBERG, Pres. Coral Gables Fed. Savings & Loan Assoc. MARIAN KRUTULIS, Director Gulliver Academy, Inc. MR. PETE LATA' The Madrid Restaurant RAUL P. MASVIDAL, Pres. Royal Trust Bank of Miami, N.A. GARY A. MATTHEWS, Pres. Gary's Paint & Body Shop, Inc. FELIPE MORENO, Manager Distributor Sales Latin American Operations Ingersoll-Rand International CLIFFORD J. NAGEL, JR., Pres. The Witters Construction Co. So. Fla. Chapter Assoc. Gen'l. Contractors DAVID C. NEALE, Div. Manager 7-Eleven Stores Division of The Southland Corporation GERALD L. ROSE, Pres. Security Federal S & L Association ROBERT L. SEARLE, Pres. Searle & Morris Insurance E. CARR SMITH ROBERT ULLMAN, Pres. Berni Blanks Men's Store Miracle Mile Merchants Association RICHARD D. SWETONIC, Pres. Wollachs/Dick Richmond NATHAN TARTAK, R.P. Riviera Pharmacy SOUTH DIXIE DISCOUNT CENTER 8865 South Dixie Highway RICHARD D. THOMAS Administrator Coral Gables Hospital I. GERALD WRIGHT Chairman of the Board Chief, Executive Officer Aristar Management Inc. FRANK H. WIRTZ, Gen'l. Mgr. The Rusty Pelican