How do we translate our ideas into success? How can we actually shape public policy with a mere notion – that freedom and free markets are the best way to organize society?
We start by realizing that ideas are the most powerful force in the world. Power can be found in politicians, armies, activists and institutions. But the reason for their power is ideas, because ideas explain why people do the things they do.
What people believe determines how they behave, for whom they vote, the laws and rules they accept or reject and what kind of society they will work to adopt. Ideas determine whether a culture embraces free markets or socialism, democracy or dictatorship. Change ideas, and you change the world.
Political leaders may enact public policy, but they seldom generate the ideas that drive policy. Politicians usually act within a fairly narrow range of politically acceptable Ideas. They cannot operate outside that range without jeopardizing their political standing.
The range of credible ideas circulating in the intellectual marketplace determines the range of politically acceptable options. So if you have a Think Tank that changes the intellectual landscape, that Think Tank actually shifts the range of politically acceptable ideas.
Milton Friedman has said Think Tanks are at their best when they change what is politically & socially possible.
We must remember we are engaged in a battle of ideas. In spite of political obstacles, we are not battling against personalities or people. We should promote ideas that shift the very ground of battle, and that is 'Intellectual Entrepreneurship'.
Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.svipja.com/
(A Global Solution for Offsets)
Credit: Atlas Economic Research Foundation.
We start by realizing that ideas are the most powerful force in the world. Power can be found in politicians, armies, activists and institutions. But the reason for their power is ideas, because ideas explain why people do the things they do.
What people believe determines how they behave, for whom they vote, the laws and rules they accept or reject and what kind of society they will work to adopt. Ideas determine whether a culture embraces free markets or socialism, democracy or dictatorship. Change ideas, and you change the world.
Political leaders may enact public policy, but they seldom generate the ideas that drive policy. Politicians usually act within a fairly narrow range of politically acceptable Ideas. They cannot operate outside that range without jeopardizing their political standing.
The range of credible ideas circulating in the intellectual marketplace determines the range of politically acceptable options. So if you have a Think Tank that changes the intellectual landscape, that Think Tank actually shifts the range of politically acceptable ideas.
Milton Friedman has said Think Tanks are at their best when they change what is politically & socially possible.
We must remember we are engaged in a battle of ideas. In spite of political obstacles, we are not battling against personalities or people. We should promote ideas that shift the very ground of battle, and that is 'Intellectual Entrepreneurship'.
Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.svipja.com/
(A Global Solution for Offsets)
Credit: Atlas Economic Research Foundation.
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