Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
In a time of populist upheaval, classical liberalism has come under fire from many directions. Many are concerned that it is based off of exploitation and promotes inequality. Others focus on those made worse off by creative destruction, or they fear the competition posed by an ascendant China.
Deirdre McCloskey disagrees with liberalism’s critics. She argues that poverty and tyranny are the two biggest problems that face mankind. Classical liberalism is the only philosophy that sustainably combats both of them. She credits the rise of liberal ideas with starting what she calls the “Great Enrichment.” This enrichment dramatically increased the living standards and personal liberties of even the poorest among us. That enrichment led Britain, and then America, and then the West more broadly, to unprecedented prosperity. This prosperity continues today, and has even been lifting inhabitants of Asian and African countries out of extreme poverty. This is the case that Dr. McCloskey makes in her new book, Why Liberalism Works: How True Liberal Values Produce a Freer, More Equal, Prosperous World for All.
Deirdre McCloskey is the Distinguished Professor of Economics, History, English, and Communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has written over a dozen books on a wide range of topics including technical economics, the bourgeois virtues, statistical theory, and transgender advocacy. Recent publications include The Cult of Statistical Significance — co written with Stphen Ziliak — as well as her famous “Bourgeois Era” trilogy.
Subscribe to Political Economy with James Pethokoukis in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.
Deirdre is a biological male. Continuing to refer to him as “she” proves why liberalism fails. Please. Life is about more than the freedom to do whatever one pleases and bodily comforts.
So where does allowing the state to decide in the mother’s favor to allow her to determine her 7 year old son is actually a girl and have him undergo ‘conversion therapy’ against the father’s wishes in this left – right divide.
It’s like Mark Steyn said, while you’re over here trying to get your capital gains tax cut, the left is over there and they just invented 59 new genders, and if you dissent you may be censored.
Always interesting to see how Trump Derangement Syndrome manifests itself, and McCloskey is a sufferer. Like a person with Tourette Syndrome, it just bursts out sometimes. Sad.