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from Europe — an idea not of American pedigree.

And, indeed, it was constitutionally challenged, and Roosevelt’s Supreme Court signed off on the constitutionality of Social Security and the idea that taxes could be levied on one set of citizens and those funds transferred to others. This was a first, and America was changed forever.

When Social Security was signed into law, the federal government consumed 10% of the national economy. Today it is approaches 25%.

This massive growth in government was, in large part, enabled by the changed understanding of the U.S. Constitution that found Social Security constitutional.

With the birth of the American welfare state, the core principles of the nation’s founding — that the role of government is to secure our personal freedom — were marginalized.

For the many deeply confused Americans that still believe they are better off under government control, consider that at the beginning of 1996 when Cato was beginning its project to transform Social Security to ownership, the Dow Jones average stood a little over 5,000. Today it is flirting with 50,000.

That wealth delivered by the marketplace was forgone by those forced to pay Social Security taxes rather than invest longterm in America’s great capital markets.

Ed Crane worked to restore America’s founding principles that have been lost.

He would always nudge me, telling me that I’m not a libertarian. And I agreed with him.

I always told him I believe in freedom every much as he did. But I am a Christian.

So, as I believe in the sacredness of private property and ownership, I also believe in the sanctity of life and marriage between a man and woman.

The recent loss of two Eds — Ed Feulner and Ed Crane — is a loss to the nation.

Badly needed today is restoration of the fight for America’s founding principles, that defined both of them, my friends.

Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS. COM