.@JonathanChait provides an excellent overview of what we’re trying to do here at the Niskanen Center: map out a program for maximizing human freedom...one that follows the data and facts over ideology.
nymag.com/intelligencer/…
nymag.com/intelligencer/…
We’re named after William Niskanen, not to embody our namesake’s every policy position, but to emulate his spirit of open inquiry and his willingness to consider heterodox positions in light of where the evidence is pointing. 
.@jonathanchait notes several reasons we have abandoned conservative/libertarian labels...we are concerned about how blind dedication to small government can lead to problematic policy positions..as expanded upon by our recently released policy vision: niskanencenter.org/blog/niskanen-…
(1). We believe that a social safety net is crucial for a flourishing free market, based on what data from around the world tells us.
.@hamandcheese details how providing a limited social safety net can empower individuals to take risks and actually bolster the market. niskanencenter.org/blog/the-free-…
(2). We refuse to deny the reality of climate change. Instead, led by @jerry_jtaylor and @JosephMajkut, we are going to search for market-friendly solutions. To echo @secupp and @MaxBoot, we hope for a time when the rest of the right can say the same. nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-ope…
(3) We have found that expanding means for legal immigration is smart national security policy, and encourages economic growth. And our immigration team, comprised of @kdpindc, @mlacorte_ and @jeremyLneufeld, is dedicated to advancing policies that reflect this evidence.
(4) Through @capturedecon, we depart from left and right ideologies by identifying and providing solutions for the rampant rise in inequality. capturedeconomy.com
.@Jonathanchait summarizes it like this: “While defending the benefits of creative destruction and free trade...Niskanen’s paper concedes that the simple small-government vision fails to capture important facts about political and economic life.”
But we are not just concerned about the shortcomings of the right. We are also concerned about the rise of democratic socialism on the left, which promises to undermine market processes...and thereby reduce prosperity for all. nationalreview.com/magazine/2018/…
And that’s why we are exploring what a healthy center-right could look like, given the Republican party’s whole-hearted embrace of Trumpist conservative populism.
America needs two healthy parties. And political parties have always been “in movement and in flux.” This is why @jerry_jtaylor has hope that the Republican party will someday be in a healthier place. thehill.com/hilltv/rising/…
.@jonathanchait is not so optimistic that the Republican party, in its current state, can be salvaged to house a vibrant center-right, and he was pretty vocal about this at our recent conference on the topic. Many said that they agreed with him.
Unlike @jonathanchait, we tend to harbor hope that market-friendly, evidence-driven moderates will find a home in the Republican party soon. But in these uncertain times, we will continue to embrace a process of discovery, as outlined by @jerry_jtaylor. niskanencenter.org/blog/the-alter…
For more on evidence-based policy, explore @willwilkinson’s piece on embracing public policy solutions that adapt to real-world scenarios, not ideological ideals. niskanencenter.org/blog/public-po…
Read @MaxBoot well-articulated piece via @PostOpinions on why he has rejected the standard ideological bubbles encouraged by both parties: washingtonpost.com/amphtml/opinio…
And explore our recently released policy vision paper to learn more about why we feel that we can confidently advance coherent policy without practicing ideological pattern recognition. niskanencenter.org/blog/niskanen-…
