Source: Fortune.com
Summary
The author reflects on the 250th anniversary of the United States, highlighting the country’s founding principle of “building free,” which allows individuals to create, act, and take risks without waiting for permission. This principle has enabled innovation and progress, and the author argues that it is still essential for the country’s future success. The author shares personal anecdotes and examples of how this principle has driven entrepreneurship and innovation, including the creation of the Ariba Network, a digital platform that facilitates business-to-business commerce.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. The author’s nostalgic tone aside, the piece highlights the tension between individual freedom and centralized control. The anniversary of the US serves as a reminder of the country’s founding principle, but the author’s warnings about the quiet pressure towards centralization and control are timely. The Ariba Network’s success story is presented as a testament to the power of “building free,” but it also raises questions about the role of regulation and oversight in ensuring accountability. The author’s conclusion that the next era will belong to societies that continue to trust people to build feels more like a statement of faith than a guarantee.
Author: Evan Null
