On Lincoln’s Birthday, Remember the Right to Rise
As Americans, we remember the great leaders of our country and reflect on their contributions to our present-day lives. February 12, 1809, marks the birthday of Abraham Lincoln—undoubtedly among the most famous and revered figures in our nation’s history, and with good reason. He was not only the Great Emancipator, but an exemplar of the American Dream, rising from humble beginnings to greatness in political office through his own honest efforts.
While serving as president, Lincoln sought to advance economic freedom and mobility for all. He understood well that a sound economy is built on free, voluntary exchange rather than coercion: “The ant, who has toiled and dragged a crumb to his nest, will furiously defend the fruit of his labor, against whatever robber assails him” (ca. 1857–1858, Speech Fragment on Slavery and the American Government). People may have different talents and dispositions, but all should be afforded equal opportunity for self-advancement through labor and the accumulation of capital. This principle is inseparable from economic freedom and free markets, which rely on voluntary cooperation among individuals. Policies that restrict opportunity, whether through red tape or excessive regulation that punishes innovation and growth, undermine liberty and, at their systematic extreme, human dignity.
More than 150 years later, Lincoln’s insights remain relevant to a robust economy and thriving society. Over the last decade, Louisiana has experienced sluggish economic growth tied to increased government spending, regulation, and overreliance on federal funds. Recently, however, the state has been on the right trajectory through standstill annual state budgets, government efficiency efforts, and pro-labor, pro-business tax reforms that allow people to keep more of what they’ve rightfully earned. State leaders have expressed a desire to build on this momentum by further reducing the state personal income tax and, ideally, formalizing a path to its elimination. These efforts encourage economic growth in the form of greater innovation, job creation, and wealth. Striving for success and prosperity is an American ideal that Lincoln vocally championed: “I don’t believe in a law to prevent a man from getting rich; it would do more harm than good. So while we do not propose any war upon capital, we do wish to allow the humblest man an equal chance to get rich with everybody else” (March 6, 1860, Speech at New Haven, Connecticut). Free-market principles bring this vision to fruition.
On Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, we should remember that his legacy is not only one of national unity and moral courage, but also of faith in the ability of free people to prosper when government respects their rights, rewards work, and allows opportunity to flourish. The promise of America, as Lincoln understood it, rests on liberty—political and economic alike.
