WHY FEE MATTERS

Did you know that the Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest libertarian / free-market advocates?

It was founded in 1946 by Leonard Read (the man seen in our cover image logo), and became a highly influential organization, not only through its published works but also by providing a metaphorical home to luminaries like Hayek, Hazlitt, Mises, Friedman, Rand, and many more.

Read’s own “I, Pencil” has become such a powerful tome about human action and the power of creativity that will stand the test of time even if the proverbial pencil itself fades into obscurity as new generations grow up on digital devices.

You can see a short timeline of FEE’s achievements on their own site:

fee.org/about/history

It’s no small irony that their own overblown trumpeting of their recent achievements ends in 2021.

The simple truth is that after Read’s tenure, FEE has had a tumultuous history, punctuated with failures of leadership that have sent it precariously close to falling off the edge of the cliff.

In a bit of cosmic brilliance, one of the only other shining periods in FEE’s history was the decade or so under Lawrence Reed’s leadership. Yes, L. Read and L. Reed!

It was a golden era for the organization, but when the unstoppable forces of Time brought with them Larry Reed’s retirement and departure, inept leadership once again sent FEE into a downward spiral.

FEE’s own stated mission is grand and noble and aspirational:

“FEE’s mission is to inspire, educate, and connect future leaders with the economic, ethical, and legal principles of a free society.

These principles include: individual liberty, free-market economics, entrepreneurship, private property, high moral character, and limited government.”

We need to fight for these ideals, and help others to see the importance of each and every one of these principles. That is, after all, the “education” part of FEE’s name.

But ask yourself this:

After taking a gander at FEE’s timeline of past achievements, do you truly believe that the FEE of today is still as productive? As effective? As… dangerous even?

Of course it isn’t.

And that’s a shame for so many reasons. But more than anything, it’s a betrayal of the fight for liberty in a world that is fading fast.

We need FEE, but we need a Foundation of Economic Education of yesterday that isn't bogged down by flabby leadership, aimless goals, and ineffectual work.

Make FEE matter again.