Why progress isn't guaranteed

Another link from Instapundit:  What he's got there says that Adam Smith was the greatest self-help author EVAH.  But I notice that nobody's interested.  What?  Nobody's interested?

I don't know the premises of the book, but what I do know is that Adam Smith said something to the effect that free markets will improve mankind more than if you arrange the society in such a way that the those who care more about human welfare are running things.  That is to say, if you let people alone, they will do more to help themselves than if the government is telling everybody how to do things.

Why is this the greatest self-help idea around?  It empowers the individual and tames the state.  The state is the biggest impediment to human progress.  Radical idea, huh?  Well, that's how the government operated for much of its earliest history and how the USA became a great nation.  That we have abandoned that and are pursuing the big government model is the reason why we are going down the tubes.

I don't hold much hope that this bunch of politicians just elected are going to adhere to that principle.  They think THEY are the answer.  But they are most likely going to be the problem.

Nobody's interested because it's not entertaining enough.  Bread and circuses, ya'll.  Bread and circuses.  That's all you care about.