Liberalism

"The very idea that classical liberalism from Smith to Mill resulted in a radical departure in modern times with libertarianism of Mises, Hayek and Buchanan is a consequences of (1) distortion of classical liberalism, (2) perverted understanding of modern libertarianism, and (3) a failure to understand the intellectual contradictions of Progressivism. To fix, start by reading David Hacket Fisher’s Albion Seed, Bernard Bailyn, Ideological Origins of the American Revolution, an...d Joyce Appleby on the influence of economic liberalism on the American founding, then read Daniel Rogers Atlantic Crossings, Gabriel Kolko’s Triumph of Conservatism, and Thomas Leonard’s Illiberal Reformers. The evolution of classical liberal ideas in the 20th century should not be understood not strictly in opposition to socialist planning theory and practice, but in opposition to the transformation of public administration in Europe and the US during this ‘Progressive’ era from late 19th century to mid-20th century. The fact that many ‘smart’ people don’t get this means that (a) modern classical liberals need to do a better job explaining the project, and (b) critical readers need to dig deeper into the nuts and bolts of the argument rather than stay at a superficial level of analysis."
Peter Boettke