NMA Speech Contest
The American Enterprise System

Topics for Consideration

1. American Enterprise - its definition and role in a free society.

2. Does the system best meet the overall needs of our society compared to other systems (Socialist, Communist, Etc.)?

3. How does American Enterprise support human and civil rights established by the Constitution?

4. Is the system right? How does it adapt to changing times?

5. Entrepreneurs (those who organize and manage a business): What steps do they take in organizing a business? What pitfalls must they avoid?

6. How can individuals rise above his/her status and reach goals through initiative?

7. Describe examples of individuals who have succeeded in the system and what was the driving force of their success?

8. How does motivation and morale affect the success of a business? What tools can be used to motivate employees?

9. Describe the operation of the stock market and how society is affected by its rise and fall?

10. What role does the Federal Reserve Board play in preventing recessions and controlling inflation?

11. How have the Unions changed in their role in business and are they an integral part of the success of the system?

12. How were U.S. businesses affected by the improvements in the quality of Japanese imports and what changes did the U.S. make to recover?

13. How does the economic system relate to the Democratic political system?

14. Do the recent changes taking place in the European East Bloc countries imply that their economic system is a failure? What has been the economic growth pattern of both the American and European systems since World War II?