Editor in chief of Forbes magazine Steve Forbes spoke last Tuesday at the 13th Annual Convocation on Critical Issues to an audience of over 2,200 on how governments can set the stage for economic growth.

Speaking at Missouri Western, Forbes said, “Governments don’t create prosperity, people create prosperity.”

Forbes’ speech The Role of Government in the Global Economy addressed five principles of economic growth: the rule of law and property rights, taxes, sound money, ease of entry and getting rid of the barriers of trade.

Forbes began his speech joking about his two failed campaigns for presidency. Forbes kept the audience’s attention through humorous metaphors and jokes. Forbes had the audience rolling when he spoke on government spending.

“Washington’s spending has been compared to drunken sailors. That’s an insult to drunken sailors. Sailors spend their own money they make defending us,” Forbes said.

Forbes then continued his speech in more serious terms with suggestions for how the government can improve our economic status.

Concerning sound money, Forbes said, “When money fluctuates in value, it just makes things more complicated.”

Forbes’ past two Republican presidential campaigns were imbedded around the flat tax initiative. Forbes still held on to this issue during his speech.

“If you want more money for government, lower the burden on people, because people will do more,” Forbes said.

Forbes called on the absurdity of the nine-million-word income tax code by comparing it with shorter important documents including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Gettysburg Address and even the Bible.

Forbes also voiced his opinion on the Estate or Death Tax.

“You should be able to leave this world without any molestation from the government,” Forbes said. “No taxation without respiration.”

Forbes ended his speech by addressing the war in Iraq. Forbes said we can fight evil and move forward at the same time. He seemed to call on the students saying, “if we don’t fight it, no one else will.”

Freshman Jesse Jennings said she was attending the speech to hear Forbes for her own personal gain.

“As a youth I should be concerned about my country’s future and where we are headed in the world market,” Jennings said. “Steve Forbes made many good points during his speech and the examples he provided were catchy and agreed with his stance on the governmental role in the economy.”

The Convocation on Critical Issues is held annually by the Western Foundation in honor of Dan Boulware, a lawyer and former president of the Board of Regents (now Board of Governors). Boulware introduced Forbes as “someone who does not take himself seriously.”

He proved this throughout his speech.

“We have wanted someone to speak on government issues in the global economy,” Boulware said. “We have not yet had that before.”

Past Convocation speakers include: Bill Bradley, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Joseph Nye, Daniel Schorr, J.C. Watts, Bob Woodward and Colin Powell.

Nearly 140 faculty marched in regalia at this year’s Convocation, and the staff section overflowed. Western students as well as local high school students attended the Convocation. A pre-convocation dinner held Monday, Oct. 2, sold out twice after tables were rearranged to accommodate more attendants. Nearly 500 people were able to hear Forbes speak and ask questions at this dinner.