Understanding the Evolution and Failures of Liberalism and Progressivism

The Founding Principles of Liberalism

For over two centuries, nations such as the United States and Great Britain, along with much of the developed world, have been guided by the principles of liberalism. These principles, championed by thinkers like John Locke, David Hume, and Adam Smith, emphasize the importance of free markets, free people, and free and fair elections. They argue that a broad base of people using their creativity and ingenuity to solve problems will always outperform a small group of elites in the long run.

The Emergence of Progressivism

However, in the early 20th century, progressives began to question these principles. They pointed out that while markets can produce remarkable things, they also lead to recurring booms and busts, produce harmful products, and contribute to pollution. Moreover, they noted that competition in the marketplace often leads to monopolies and oligopolies controlled by powerful individuals, which is contrary to the idea of freedom. Progressives proposed anti-trust laws to break up monopolies and a regulatory state to set minimum standards for food, medicine, and workplace safety, as well as limits on pollution. Society largely agreed with these proposals.

The Union of Liberalism and Progressivism

As a result, for the past century, our system has been a combination of liberalism and progressivism. This system includes free markets, free people, and somewhat free and fair elections, along with anti-trust laws to prevent market power concentration and regulations to mitigate the worst aspects of capitalism.

The Predatory Regulatory State

However, a significant shift occurred when the regulatory state became predatory. It discovered that it could collude with big businesses to enjoy the benefits of monopoly. This is a modern form of fascism, without the racism, nationalism, or militarism that characterized historical forms of fascism. The state and capital managers now work together to amass wealth at society's expense, often under the guise of public health crises.

The Failure of Liberalism and Progressivism

The enormous problem we now face is that both liberalism and progressivism have failed. Free markets and the regulatory state have created concentrated power that has become predatory and genocidal. The largest firms and the state have merged into a single entity.

The Current State of Affairs

The three proposed reforms currently on offer are not viable solutions. Conservatives want a return to virtue, but if this were a viable solution, it would have already worked. Classical economic liberals want a return to liberalism, but it is unclear how we could transition from our current state of monopolistic capitalism back to a society of independent craftspeople. The modern left, confused by their own ideologies, simply want the regulatory state to exert more control, effectively embracing fascism.

The Urgent Task for the Resistance

Our society has become a peculiar blend of the Middle Ages, the Third Reich, and a dystopian future. We have two classes - lords and peasants; we are in the midst of a profitable genocide; and all of this is infused with surveillance technology, mind-altering drugs, and pervasive propaganda. The urgent task for those resisting this state of affairs is to define a political economy that addresses the failures of conservatism, liberalism, and progressivism, while charting a path forward that eradicates this new form of fascism and restores freedom and human flourishing.

Bottom Line

The evolution and subsequent failures of liberalism and progressivism have led us to a critical juncture. As we grapple with the challenges of concentrated power, predatory practices, and a society that increasingly resembles a dystopian novel, it's clear that new solutions are needed. What are your thoughts on the current state of our political economy? How can we move forward in a way that restores freedom and promotes human flourishing? Share your thoughts and continue the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.