From Tom Lutely’s article in The Billings Gazette:
Conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform and the Competitive Enterprise Institute accused farmers of using “the current drought to lock taxpayers into a trillion dollars worth of bad agriculture policy.”
Fred Smith is the animating spirit at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Fred conceived of the idea for an organization that would, in his words, “find a more positive answer to the challenge Joseph Schumpeter laid down in his essay, “Can Capitalism Survive?” He founded the organization and served as president for nearly three decades.
He died at the age of 83 at home in Maryland where he is survived by his beloved wife Fran. Fred was a friend and mentor, an advocate and ally, and an inspiration. His bright light lives on in our work.
Fred Lee Smith
December 26, 1940 – November 23, 2024