Does Anyone Really Believe Free Market Fundamentalists Are ‘Running the Show’?

Let’s hope not.

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Dear Reader, 

“Conservative intellectuals launch a new group to challenge free-market ‘fundamentalism’ on the right.”—Washington Post, February 18, 2020

Oren Cass, a very bright fellow and decent guy, has launched a new organization, American Compass. Joining him are some other very bright people—some of whom I know, others I know by reputation. I do not worry that any of them—particularly Michael Needham or David Azerrad —are ersatz socialists or champions of dirigisme (which, I’ll have you know, I spelled correctly on the first try). 

I think it is entirely possible I will end up agreeing with some, or even most, of their forthcoming policy proposals. Which is to say that the following criticism centers on framing, history, politics, and first principles. We’ll have to wait and see on what policy proposals flow from those first principles.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Old Dane

    Nice article! I just joined as a paying member to support this source of relative political truthfulness and conservative opinion. While I've read Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Hayes in their previous roles, I stumbled on this new endeavor, The Dispatch, after trying to learn where Mr. Hayes "disappeared to" after his previous job. More widespread marketing may help increase the number of subscribers because readers certainly will not learn of The Dispatch in today's majority left-leaning press.

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    Barbara Rustad

    My complaint about comparisons between administrations is that the president has very little to do with economic results. I'd like to see the the same comparisons made between congresses.

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    JonathanRRogers

    I agree with the fair Jessica that increasing the G-File frequency is a bad idea. There's plenty of other stuff to read and listen to from The Dispatch to keep us occupied throughout the week.

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    Joe Delanis

    I think the crux of Mr. Cass' point is that the places and industries which he perceives to have been the biggest beneficiaries of "the free market" - the coasts, big cities, and "handful of industries" (by which I'm sure he's referring to the tech sector) - tend to be quite politically liberal.

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    Joe Delanis

    Great picture!

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    Rob Jablonski

    While I might welcome more G-Files, I agree with The Fair Jessica that the brand IS a Friday thing. I also agree that a fantastic beef Wellington can be cause for sainthood. Those things said, perhaps one or two small-g files per week would not be looked on amiss...

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    Kevin Johnson

    Jonah, Great stuff, and a much needed reminder of the misdirection and shell games we are subject to, even from our “ friends.” I think it’s clear most proposing Cassian solutions are simply fighting for the coming “post Trump” terrain, or ruble, conservatives will face. It isn’t catchy or inspiring to simply say our public choices should be adjusted ( more family subsidies, wage subsidies ?), even if you or I agree with the proposals. But it IS catchy to say the paradigm must shift to the “new, new conservatism” (or coke?) I hold shining in my hand here. On G file, if market gives me an extra one each week (already paid up) I will gladly consume to support the blind capitalist machine. However, I agree with your wife that it is better to preserve the g file brand and value. If there were “A, B, C, D, E, F...” files, G file would lose something. And Friday vibe is a meaningful point as well. Why can’t we have Goldberg proliferation, without losing G file uniqueness? Could you and Jessica do a “JJ” or “JGJG” file on Wednesday? Or could your Dispatch headline writers so proud of today’s “Bloomberg stopped and Frisked” phrase, find you another name and a Wednesday twist? If keeping up with the Frenches is needed, despite the other columns you write, do something without diluting the unique Friday piece, I suggest. Have a scotch and play with “hump day” phrasing...

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    John D. Wright

    I guess I am one of those who believes freedom (and capitalism is economic freedom) is an end unto itself. We as people should be able to contract with others and benefit from the interactions. The only check on capitalism I see as good is preventing the "winners" from using their former gains to shut out future competitors. I want the entrepreneurs to come to work every day trying to provide a winning product. Not necessarily the very best product but the one that customers want at the price they want. The one who strikes closest wins that battle and the next day it begins again.

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  9. Collin Saunders

    I really hope you decide to write two G-files a week. Love the insights you bring to the table. Despite the obvious irony of his lifestyle, Trump might be the last social conservative President we might see for a long long time, unless he wins re-election. Social conservatives are driving their cause into the ground by suggesting they should be regulating the market. Libertarians, classical liberals, neocons (or whatever they’re called these days) and foreign policy war-hawks might be carrying the torch for conservative movement.

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    Israel Bigelow

    Love the Gary Johnson photo. It's an interesting time to be in the Conservative movement as the country is going through political realignment. Amidst the pushback in different countries against globalization and a loss of faith in party establishment, ours took the form of Trump and Bernie. Latching on to the Trump wagon are thinkers like Cass and social conservatives like Rusty Reno and Sohrab Ahmari at First Things who are hostile to libertarianism, capitalism, and, in some ways even the American founding. They have some good points because while capitalism is great at creating growth it uproots established order and traditions. However, they fall into many of the same pitfalls as progressives in terms of what they think is possible with central planning. Fix problems like illegal immigration, the decline of the Rust Belt, the decline of Mainline Christianity, and I think we can find common ground. This is what makes Cass's argument for exercising libertarian-leaning conservatives from the movement odd. What's needed is an adjustment of priorities and policies but we're told we need a purge of those not willing to worship at the alter of the state because they oppose the "common good". I do have some hope a new fusionist consensus can take the best ideas of both sides but don't see how it's possible if we're waging crusades on one another.

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