The Michael Shermer Show
326. Naomi Oreskes — The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Capitalism and democracy can coexist but require well-regulated capitalism for the common good.
- The myth of free market fundamentalism ignores market failures and the need for government intervention.
- The distortion of Adam Smith's ideas was propagated by industrialists promoting their own self-interests.
- Government intervention is necessary to address market failures, as demonstrated by the case of rural electrification.
- The influence of libertarian ideologues shaped the narrative of capitalism and individualism, impacting societal perceptions.
Deep dives
The Social Costs of Capitalism and the Need for Reform
The late 19th century was marked by exploitative working conditions, child labor, and industrial accidents. Workers were injured or killed on the job frequently, and there was a need for significant reform. Progressive reformers like Gifford Pinchot pushed for reforms such as Workman's Compensation and child labor regulations. However, these reforms faced fierce resistance from those who argued for the sanctity of the free market and limited government intervention. This debate highlighted the struggle between the need to protect workers and promote the common good, and the desire for individual liberty and limited government involvement.
The Distorted Image of Adam Smith and Free Market Fundamentalism
Adam Smith, often portrayed as an advocate of unfettered capitalism and free market fundamentalism, has been misrepresented. His work, 'The Wealth of Nations,' includes nuance and caveats that are often overlooked. Smith believed in the regulation of banks and recognized the need for government intervention to protect the public interest. The distortion of Smith's ideas can be traced to the efforts of industrialists in the 20th century who sought to promote their own self-interest and advance their libertarian agenda. By rewriting textbooks and funding academic projects, they propagated a simplified and idealized view of Adam Smith, promoting an image that aligned with their own interests.
The Failure of Unregulated Markets: The Case of Rural Electrification
Rural electrification in the United States during the early 20th century serves as an example of market failure. Private sector companies found it unprofitable to provide electricity to rural areas, resulting in a stark divide between electrified urban areas and underserved rural communities. Efforts to address this issue through public-private partnerships, such as Gifford Pinchot's 'Giant Power' proposal, faced propaganda and resistance from private electricity companies. Ultimately, the federal government tackled the problem through the Rural Electrification Administration, demonstrating that government intervention was necessary to address market failures and provide essential services to underserved communities.
Challenging Free Market Fundamentalism: Critiquing the Myth of Market Efficiency
The myth of free market fundamentalism posits that unregulated markets possess innate wisdom, while government intervention is seen as encroaching on market efficiency. However, this myth fails to recognize the realities of market failures, such as asymmetric information and externalities, which lead to inefficiencies. The book challenges this myth by highlighting historical examples of market failures and the need for government intervention to protect the public interest. Market fundamentalism is portrayed as a damaging myth that disregards the evidence and fails to account for the complexities of economic systems.
Influential libertarian ideologues and their impact
The podcast discusses the influence of libertarian ideologues such as Ayn Rand, Lulu von Mises, and Friedrich von Hayek and their impact on shaping the narrative of capitalism and individualism. It delves into their backgrounds and the contradictions within their philosophies, highlighting the anger and hostility exhibited by Rand, which may have stemmed from her personal experiences. The podcast also explores how these ideas were popularized after World War II and how business interests recruited academics to lend intellectual credibility to their arguments. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating ideas critically and considering their alignment with empirical evidence.
The need for regulations and collective action
The podcast emphasizes the necessity of regulations and collective action to solve social and economic problems. It provides examples such as building codes for earthquake-proof structures, FDIC's insurance in preventing bank collapses, and regulations that ensure fairness on the roads. The discussion highlights how individual freedoms are enhanced by these regulations, as they prevent tragedies and enable greater freedom of movement and economic stability. The podcast also addresses the issue of individual responsibility and the role of government in implementing effective and useful regulations to address collective action problems.
Rethinking libertarian narratives and the pursuit of happiness
The podcast encourages a critical examination of libertarian narratives and their alignment with empirical evidence. It challenges the notion that compromise in capitalism leads to totalitarianism, providing examples of successful, socialistic countries in Europe. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of considering happiness as a metric for societal well-being and suggests that the US should reassess its approach. The podcast asserts that while it is not the government's role to make individuals happy, it is their responsibility to create conditions that allow individuals to pursue their own happiness. It highlights the US's relatively low ratings in happiness among wealthy nations and suggests a need to rethink economic and social policies.
The Influence of Propaganda on Hayek's Book
The podcast episode explores the influence of propaganda on Friedrich Hayek's book, 'The Road to Serfdom.' The speaker discusses how Hayek's book was adapted and simplified by organizations like Readers Digest and Look Magazine, distorting some of its key ideas. The simplified versions stripped out important caveats and nuanced discussions on the legitimate role of government in areas like pollution control and workplace safety. Instead, a distorted view was presented, claiming that all government involvement is bad and that any departure from a completely free market would lead to a Nazi-style dictatorship. These simplified versions reached millions of Americans, contributing to a skewed understanding of Hayek's original work.
The Influence of General Electric and Religion on Reagan's Ideology
The podcast episode delves into the transformation of Ronald Reagan's political views and his journey from being an actor to a politician. Reagan's stint as the host of General Electric Theater played a significant role in shaping his ideology. Through the show, he promoted individualistic success narratives and an anti-union, anti-government message that resonated with General Electric's corporate interests. This experience, coupled with the financial backing of corporate supporters, led to a shift in Reagan's political views. Reagan then carried forward these views, promoting them in his speech during Barry Goldwater's presidential nomination. Additionally, the episode discusses how certain pro-market forces financed organizations like Spiritual Mobilization to align Christianity with capitalism, influencing the alignment of American evangelical Christianity with pro-market and anti-government ideologies.
Shermer and Oreskes discuss: the myth of market magic • market fundamentalism • market absolutism • market essentialism • capitalism and democracy • well-regulated vs. poorly regulated capitalism • U.S. Constitution and capitalism • what the founding fathers believed about markets • what Adam Smith really said about markets and capitalism and how economists rewrote Adam Smith • why markets need regulation in the same way sports need rules and referees • rhetorical fallacies of market fundamentalists • child labor laws • bank failures • Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 • Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman • religion and capitalism • think tanks • collective action problems.
Naomi Oreskes is Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University. Her opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and many other outlets. Her TED talk, “Why We Should Trust Scientists,” was viewed more than a million times. Erik M. Conway is a historian of science and technology and works for the California Institute of Technology. He is the author of seven books and dozens of articles and essays. Their new book is The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market.
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