The Liberal Patriot with Ruy Teixeira Why Rich Societies Are Breaking Down
Jan 16, 2026
Brink Lindsey, senior vice president at the Niskanen Center and author of The Permanent Problem, dives into the paradox of wealth and societal stagnation. He explores how capitalism's limitations and performative politics hinder genuine progress despite material abundance. Lindsey discusses the decline in birth rates, its impact on innovation, and how consumerism distracts from personal fulfillment. He advocates for rebalancing market, state, and community roles to foster meaningful connections and redefine flourishing in modern society.
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Prosperity Creates A New Social Problem
- Prosperity shifted society from material survival to seeking meaning, making the transition to flourishing difficult.
- Brink Lindsey says this change can feel like a "general social nervous breakdown" as old habits break down.
Mass Plenty Versus Mass Flourishing
- Mass plenty means basic material needs are broadly met and no longer dominate life.
- Lindsey argues mass flourishing requires more than goods: meaning, belonging, and purpose are now central.
Three Pillars Of Human Flourishing
- Flourishing depends on projects, relationships, and experiences as core human needs.
- Lindsey says all three have weakened in rich societies, undermining quality of life despite material gains.
