U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue says the Campaign for Free Enterprise will be one of the most important and necessary initiatives in the Chamber's nearly 100-year history.

 
The U.S. Chamber is preparing to roll out a sustained national media, education, and grassroots advocacy campaign to defend and advance America's free enterprise values in the face of rapid government growth and attacks by anti-business activists. The campaign is scheduled to launch in the fall.

Campaign tactics will include paid media advertising, public opinion research, new media, lobbying, and voter education. Small businesses and state and local chambers nationwide will figure prominently in the campaign.

"It's time to remind all Americans that it was a free enterprise system based on individual initiative, hard work, risk, innovation, and profit that built our great country," says Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue. "We must reaffirm the spirit of enterprise in America."

"Dire economic circumstances have certainly justified some out-of-the-ordinary remedial actions by government," Donohue adds. "But enough is enough. If we don't stop the rapidly growing influence of government over private sector activity, we will squander America's unmatched capacity to innovate and create a standard of living and free society that are the envy of the world. Free enterprise is not a perfect system, but it is the best system."

Many citizens, especially younger ones, do not understand the role played by small businesses, investors, global trade, capital markets, or the profit motive in creating jobs, wealth, and opportunities. A reputable public opinion survey published in April 2009 found that just 53% of Americans prefer capitalism over socialism. Among those under age 30, capitalism was preferred over socialism by a margin of 37% to 33%, with the remaining 30% undecided.

Look for more details on the Campaign for Free Enterprise in a future issue of uschamber.com.