Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
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Government operations and spending
c Taxes g
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g c
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Property rights
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Privatization and other fiscal reforms
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Environmental laws and regulations
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Learn How the Overton Window Relates to the Struggle for Freedom!
Special essays that can be e-mailed to you!
“Civil Society: Moral Arguments for Limiting Government”: The Overton Window model
suggests that the key to changing government policy lies in changing the views of the public.
This, however, takes more than facts and logic. As Mackinac Center President Joseph G.
Lehman argues in this essay, winning the battle for people’s hearts and minds through
“economic analysis alone is like bringing a knife to a gun fight.” E -mail me free copies of
this and the other special essays!
“The Inspiring Story of Thomas Clarkson”: There may be no greater example of shifting
the Overton Window than the story of the man most responsible for ending slavery in the
British Empire: Thomas Clarkson. Dedicating himself to abolition in 1785 and triumphing
against impossible odds, Clarkson toiled for decades to organize a nationwide citizens’
movement that transformed public opinion through books, pamphlets, research, petitions,
lawsuits, mailings, gatherings and commercial art. In this moving monograph, Mackinac Center
President Emeritus Lawrence W. Reed brings Clarkson’s story to life. E -mail me free copies of this
“Government, Poverty and Self-R e l i a n c e”: The Overton Window model tells us that
when society unites behind sound principles, its political servants will too. In this eye-
opening essay, Mackinac Center President Emeritus Lawrence W. Reed unearths the
remarkable consistency and eloquence with which 19th century presidents fought poverty
by opposing 20th century-style welfare programs. E -mail me free copies of this and the
“Great Myths of the Great Depression”: Eighty years ago, the Overton Window shifted
decidedly toward government intervention in the American economy. According to the
popular view, this transformation occurred because capitalism failed and precipitated an
Lawrence W. Reed questions this narrative and suggests the trend toward government
intervention continued not because of the government’s successes, but because of its failures. E -m a i l
“Investing in Ideas”: If the views of society shift the Overton Window, then what shifts the
views of society? The answer, writes Mackinac Center President Emeritus Lawrence W. Reed,
is ideas. In this cogent and compact essay, Reed argues that ideas are more powerful than
armies — and that anyone who wants to invest in society should invest in ideas first. E -m a i l
You've probably had this experience at some point: You've read about a great new idea for
reforming government policy and thought, "This makes so much sense; why don't
lawmakers just do it?" But months pass, and you don't hear politicians even discuss the
There's a reason: Ideas take time to produce changes in policy. This can be frustrating,
but it also means that ideas policymakers refuse to countenance now may yet — w i t h
You can conceptualize changes in public opinion and political by the Mackinac Center's late
acceptability with this interactive gadget. Move the window by vice president, Joseph Overton.
clicking inside the blue box; resize the window by clicking on
After Joe died in 2003, I built a
the edge of the blue box.
presentation around his idea,
policy.
Parents pay for only the education they choose concept with me in the mid-
State‐mandated curricula
comparison with the left-right
politically possible.
No government ownership, control
or monitoring of energy markets
Many believe that politicians
Government monitors open competition in energy markets
move the window, but that's
Energy firms somewhat regulated; no subsidies actually rare. In our
Government allows only a few market competitors, approves rates typically don't determine what
clicking inside the blue box; resize the window by clicking on prove strong enough to sustain
All gun trade operated and controlled by government Lawmakers who support
Government welfare is entitlement with few limits or restrictions whenever they choose; rather,
societal sensibilities.
founding principles of limited government and free markets. Public policies rooted in t h o s e
ideas produced freedom and prosperity unmatched by any other society in history. The
same policies can return us to prosperity now. A people animated by our nation's founding
principles will shift the window of political possibility toward greater freedom.
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To learn more about the Mackinac Center, sign up for our e-m a i l s.
policy change. When public policies in a given area, such as education or labor, are
arranged from freest to least free, only a relatively narrow window of options will be
they can support and still win re-election. Hence, the window shifts to include new
policies or exclude old ones not when ideas change among politicians, but when ideas
change in the society that elects them.
The Overton Window is described in more detail at the top of this page and in an article
here.
A : The Overton Window was developed in the mid-1990s by the late Joseph P. Overton,
who was senior vice president at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy at the time of his
death in 2003. (For a brief biography and a comprehensive list of Overton's commentaries
and studies, click here. ) Following Overton's passing, the Mackinac Center's current
president, Joseph Lehman, built a presentation around Overton's idea and shared it with
other leaders of state-based free-market think tanks.
Overton Window reflects what society believes, which can be as easily influenced by truth
and facts as it can be by inaccurate or deceptive information. Even mistakes can shift the
program’s creation in the 1960s. The false belief that weapons of mass destruction would
A : The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonpartisan research and educational
institute dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Michigan citizens by promoting
sound solutions to state and local policy questions. The Mackinac Center assists
policymakers, scholars, business people, the media and the public by providing objective
analysis of Michigan issues. The goal of all Center reports, commentaries and educational
programs is to equip Michigan citizens and other decision makers to better evaluate
policy options. For more information, please click here.
Q : What is the connection between the Mackinac Center and Glenn Beck's new book,
A : The book is based on Beck’s adaptation of the Overton Window concept developed by
the Mackinac Center, a Michigan think tank. A character in the book reveals the origin of
the concept to be a think tank in the Midwest. The Mackinac Center was not involved in
the creation of the book. Beck's "The Overton Window" is a work of fiction scheduled for
release on June 15, 2010. Beck has discussed the Overton Window concept on his
television show, however, just as others have discussed the idea. It is a testament to the
vitality of Overton's ideas that years after Overton's passing, a nationally syndicated talk
show host would find the Overton Window compelling and want to share the idea with an
audience of millions.
Q : How can I help the Mackinac Center promote better public policy in Michigan and reach
as many people as possible?
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Links
Lehman Discusses the Overton Window on Glenn Beck's Radio Show
An Introduction to the Overton Window of Political Possibilities
The Overton Window Opens to Another Audience (audio)
Don't Look Now: Right-t o-Work Is in the Overton Window
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