Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey has just published his autobiography. It’s called Leader and we highly recommend it. It’s the best account of how the sausage is actually made on Capitol Hill, written by someone who was – and is – one of the true heroes of contemporary conservatism.
While in Congress, Armey – a Ph.D. economist and former university professor – was known among the free-market faithful for his many “Axioms” which, fortunately, he repeats in the book. For us, they’re words to live by:
I believe in free markets and small, nonintrusive government.
I believe that our Founding Fathers were the world’s greatest policy entrepreneurs, and they created the greatest and most benevolent nation in world history.
I believe that there are certain Mandates that are imperative, such as the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, integrity, fidelity, honor, duty, self-respect, respect for others, honesty, decency, good manners, and consideration for others.
I believe that you are entitled to only that which you earn from honest labor, and I believe that you are entitled to all that you earn.
I believe that if you take pay from a man, you owe him your full and complete best effort.
I know that none of us will be perfectly good in all these things, but we are obliged to do the best we can.
