Portugal's Freedom Day and business freedom

Today is Freedom Day. It’s a national holiday in Portugal. 37 years ago by sunrise the Movement of the Armed Forces, or MFA, took control of Portugal's destiny. After almost five decades of dictatorship MFA promised to restore civil liberties and hold general elections. The people longed for replacement of state institutions that included a political police that imprisoned and tortured people. Six civilian were dead during the outburst. The 25 April coup became known as the Carnation Revolution. (Florists distributed red carnations to military forces on the street.) It ended the longest dictatorship in Europe, the Estado Novo.

What's the importance of freedom to do business? Imagine living in a country where the Government is making all decisions about your business. No matter what’s your business, imagine if your Government was dictating you where to invest your savings or with whom should you negotiate. This looks like the dark ages of business specially if you are used to internet’s freedom and to know that with a tool like that you can engage business negotiations virtually with anyone in the globe!

When I was a child Portugal was a country isolated from the world. Economic freedom is what makes a country go forward. When Portugal economy was set free the country developed. Today there’s a rising opinion that capitalism doesn’t work anymore and that a new system is slowly in the making. As we’re facing hard times in Europe we hear people saying that Government must interfere more even if we watch Government making a lot of bad choices and often excuse their failure with markets logic or financial system rules. Bailouts are one of the things a Government do and that I do not subscribe. Why saving malinvestment and inefficiency? It happened with a Portuguese bank.  What do you think about Governement interference in economy? Does it do more harm than good?  What's your experience?

Sponsor Ads

• Ad Space Available - Rent it Now!

Report this Page

Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

Share on APSense

Comments

Philippe Moisan   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer Well, Belinha, thanks for sending me the link to this very well written piece. I hope it's very joyous day for you! :) Apr 25th 2011 13:43

Philippe Moisan   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer btw, I shared on Twitter and FB, and in the APSense Live Stream too, and I will post the link on other social networks Apr 25th 2011 13:44

Belinha Fernandes   Plastic artist I appreciate the liberty to speak my mind without fear, so this is a very important day for me.Thanks Philippe! Apr 25th 2011 16:06