I just don't see how you can be adamant about wanting to suppress (not influence, which tempests in this teapot will scarcely do, but the only effective thing which would be to suppress) public opinion, without sacrificing the free speech you supposedly hold dear.
However, ultimately I believe the current public opinion is right, but not for earthly economic reasons. Rather, it reflects something that God has written upon the heart of mankind. I think the post some time back by drlevy88 put it well. Economics is not the whole of mankind. Case in point, God's biblical prohibition on usury (some translate this as a prohibition on interest, period, but I won't get into that). One could argue from a strictly earthly point of view that such prohibitions only hurt borrowers by making credit harder to get. But God has a point to make: don't enslave your fellow man with debt.
I just don't see how you can be adamant about wanting to suppress (not influence, which tempests in this teapot will scarcely do, but the only effective thing which would be to suppress) public opinion, without sacrificing the free speech you supposedly hold dear.
I think you underestimate the power of words and discussion. Public opinion has changed drastically since this country was founded. It once tolerated slavery, but abolitionists gradually influenced public opinion and they did it without the Internet. (and the word is "influence" not "suppress").
Economics is not the whole of mankind.
Yes, I agree. That's why is says, "In God We Trust" on our currency. Free enterprise is an essential part of our civilization, but without a certain degree of trust, it won't work.
Economics is a broader subject than free enterprise. Like a lot of passages in the Bible, economics deals with the distribution of goods, services and resources. Free enterprise does that well, but it isn't appropriate for all situations. For example, free enterprise doesn't work well to distribute resources within a company or within a family. A man shouldn't have to pay his wife for sex or to pay his children to do chores.
Free enterprise is a good way to determine need. The more a man needs something, the higher the price he is willing to pay. That principle does not apply to the destitute, though, so charity has a place.
Case in point, God's biblical prohibition on usury
If you read the fine print you will see that the prohibition refers to "believers" or to "brothers", not to outsiders. And this makes perfect sense. To require that believers extend absolute trust to non-believers would give evil a terrific advantage.
Like I've said, we wouldn't be having this discussion if we were all Amish farmers -- they know they can expect favors to be returned from their own.
But God has a point to make: don't enslave your fellow man with debt
That's right. Free enterprise is not by nature a good or evil thing, it depends on the circumstances. You should not lend to someone who you know is likely to default. But this is another case where (man-made) economic law can be such a blunt instrument. We have laws that prohibit discrimination in lending. And if a lender's means-testing results in discrimination against protected minorities, he can be hauled into court.