The Realignment 590 | Brink Lindsey: How the 21st Century Mugged a Libertarian
Jan 22, 2026
Brink Lindsey, Senior Vice President at the Niskanen Center and author of The Permanent Problem, discusses his transformation from a libertarian to what he calls a 'brokeness liberal.' He explores the legitimacy crisis in liberal democratic capitalism, the impact of rising AI, and how new societal challenges demand systemic change. Brink argues for well-designed social insurance to support market dynamism and the need for a deeper analysis of abundance beyond mere productivity. He highlights the importance of purpose in a thriving society, cautioning against consumerism.
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Libertarian Roots Meet Social Insurance
- Libertarian principles remain valuable but incomplete for today's problems.
- Brink Lindsey argues liberalism plus robust social insurance complements market dynamism.
Mugged By The 21st Century
- Being 'mugged by reality' shifted Lindsey from pure libertarianism to a 'brokenist liberal' stance.
- He keeps market and pluralist commitments while calling for structural reform.
Design Insurance To Sustain Creative Destruction
- Design social insurance as automatic stabilizers to make creative destruction politically sustainable.
- Preserve a competitive, entrepreneurially driven market to finance social supports.
