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The War of Ideas
by Dean Reese
Originally posted to BNN 3/13/2005
The war of ideas is a battle between liberals and conservatives, progressives and libertarians, over the appropriate role for government.
Recently, I read a report by The Stanford Social Innovation Review, part of the Stanford School of Business, titled, "War of Ideas: Why mainstream and liberal foundations and the think tanks they support are losing in the war of ideas in American politics."
There are a couple points, that are shocking in their sheer magnitude:
The 15 largest foundations are spending more than $100 million a year on public policy institutes, and these are not conservative foundations supporting conservative think tanks. These are large, mainline foundations often led and staffed by progressively minded people that do not share the agenda of reducing the role of government.
$100 million a year. That is a huge amount of money.
The top conservative foundations are all significantly smaller than the 15 largest foundations in the United States. The largest one had 2002 assets totaling $580 million, compared with between $2.5 and $32 billion among the 15 largest foundations. The total amount these conservative foundations spent on public policy institutes was about $29.5 million – less than one quarter of what the largest mainline foundations devoted to such work.
With this context, if liberals and progressives are spending far more money, why are conservatives winning that battle? For an answer, you need to look no further, than the mission statements of two of the most powerful think tanks:
Brookings Institution: "The Brookings Institution … is an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to research, analysis, and public education with an emphasis on economics, foreign policy, governance, and metropolitan policy"
The Brookings Institution is very clear about being nonpartisan. In reality, there is nothing further from the truth.
Heritage Foundation: "The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute – a think tank – whose, mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited
government, individual freedom, traditional American
values, and a strong national defense."
On the other hand The Heritage Foundation makes no excuse for the intent, conservative public policies.
Winning the war of ideas, is one of the most important battles of our lifetime. The power of the web, provides opportunity to more efficiently connect with more people than ever before. The conservatives are currently winning the battle not because they necessarily have better ideas but because they are more focused in the message.
Footnote:
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Cross posted on The Blue Glow Worm
Dean Reese blogs at The Blue Glow Worm.
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