Staff Reports
Steve Forbes recently sat down with Dennis McCuistion on Perspectives Matter and did something too few leaders do: he offered plain, stubborn optimism about America’s future. Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, reminded viewers that our greatest strength isn’t some speech or law. It’s the American entrepreneurial spirit — the people who roll up their sleeves, solve problems, and build things other nations can only admire from a distance.
Steve Forbes: Why America’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Still Matters
Forbes pointed to history — the panics of the 1890s, the Great Depression, the malaise of the 1970s — and argued that each time Americans hit a wall, we found a way through. That’s not blind faith. It’s a record of innovation and risk-taking that created jobs, wealth, and new industries. He also took a swipe at Europe’s slow-growth model, noting why fewer top tech companies come from there: when you choke entrepreneurship with rules and excuses, you get less invention and more hand-wringing.
Entrepreneurship Beats Bureaucracy
The lesson is simple: free markets and economic liberty beat overbearing government plans every time. Small business owners and big tech CEOs may disagree about lunch, but they’re united in one thing — they create solutions. Meanwhile, some politicians keep offering more permits, more panels, and more programs as if paperwork is a growth strategy. Spoiler alert: it isn’t. America needs fewer mandates and more incentives for people to take risks and hire their neighbors.
Policy Prescription: Let Americans Build
If we want that entrepreneurial spirit to thrive, policy must get out of the way. That means cutting red tape, lowering tax and compliance burdens that punish success, expanding school choice so students learn to think like problem-solvers, and welcoming talented immigrants who start companies and create jobs. It also means energy and regulatory independence so entrepreneurs aren’t playing whack-a-mole with shifting rules. These are simple, common-sense steps that boost economic optimism and keep the American dream alive.
So let the pessimists forecast decline while they refresh gloomy think pieces. The real work is happening in garages, kitchens, and shared offices across the country — where Americans are trying ideas, failing fast, and starting again. As Steve Forbes said, our strength is resilience plus creativity. Conservatives should not only defend that spirit; we should celebrate it, protect it, and build policy around it. The future will belong to the builders — provided we stop making them ask permission.
