The great fear that hung over the business community in the 1970s was death by regulation, and the great goal of the conservative movement, as it rose to triumph in the 1980s, was to remove that threat - to keep OSHA, the EPA, and the FTC from choking off entrepreneurship with their infernal meddling in the marketplace.

Summary

In this quote, the author highlights the sentiment prevalent in the business community during the 1970s and the subsequent conservative movement in the 1980s. The fear that loomed over businesses was the onerous impact of excessive regulations. The conservative movement aimed to eliminate this fear by trying to prevent agencies like OSHA, the EPA, and the FTC from stifling entrepreneurial endeavors through their constant interference in the marketplace. This quote emphasizes the desire for economic freedom and the belief in the importance of minimal government intervention in business affairs.

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