Hawley asserts, without demonstrating, a broad “collapse of community” across America, and blames this, without explaining the causation, on “market worship,” without identifying the irrational worshipers. His logic is opaque but his destination is clear: Because markets do not properly allocate wealth and opportunity, much of their role must be supplanted by government.
Confidence in markets and confidence in government often vary inversely. Today, progressives assert a severely limited efficiency of markets in allocating resources for the public good, and they proclaim government’s duty and ability to improve upon it. Increasingly, “Market Skeptic Republicans” (a Pew Research Center category) agree. They are selectively skeptical, having extravagant faith — in government.
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