A new online magazine, Liberalism.org, launched in March. I’m a founding contributor along with a very flattering (to me) group.

My first piece for the outlet was published this week. I take a deep dive into a well-known passage by Adam Smith (the “Man of System” passage) to argue that liberal principles don’t need to be protected from political action. In fact, liberals need both an idea of how things ought to work and a commitment to persuasive democratic politics.

The Liberal Spirit of System

The “man of system” is a famous figure in the work of Adam Smith, and not in a good way. And yet we all think in systems. They can be both beautiful and helpful. What gives?

Liberalism.org • Janet Bufton

I’ve got more in the works, but since the magazine is new I’ll draw attention to a few pieces that strike me as interestingly in conversation with mine—by Mike Munger, Sarah Skwire, and Kevin Elliott.

Yours, Mine, or Ours? Liberals Need a Theory of the State

Economist Michael Munger outlines how public goods may be provided with little or no state involvement. Private road associations are viable, and better tolling technology lessens the need for state action. That's true of many other technologies, making efficient government a moving target.

Liberalism.org • Michael C. Munger

Mini Tacos, Murder, and the Problem of Getting Exactly What We Want

When personalization is king and optimization is everywhere, fiction has lessons about where to stop.

Liberalism.org • Sarah Skwire

If Liberals Get Tougher, What Will They Become?

If American liberals deploy aggressive tactics against the right, will they lose what makes them good?

Liberalism.org • Kevin Elliott

(Sarah Skwire has also done a podcast interview about her article.)

There is more than I can politely share in an update on my own writing, but I hope you’ll subscribe to the site.

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