Economic Wisdom: Insights from Dr. Hendrickson

Social justice initiatives undermine personal liberty and property rights.

By Scott Cross

 

At the end of September, former professor of economics at Grove City College Dr. Mark Hendrickson kicked off a third season of Economics with Dr. Hendrickson. The monthly series, produced by the Institute for Faith and Freedom, examines various popular topics from a free market economic perspective. The first lecture discussed social justice mythology.

Dr. Hendrickson began by explaining that the phrase “social justice” itself is difficult to define and measure. Often, people who use it simply want everyone to be “more equal,” but this mindset is dangerous. Dr. Hendrickson describes egalitarianism as a “war against nature… and God” because it attempts to dismiss human individuality.

Social justice advocates, desiring to suppress diversity, attempt to use the coercive might of government to make people more “equal.” This can mean handicapping a certain group of people or giving preferential treatment to another. In practice, this is the exact opposite of justice. Social “justice” uses the government to favor certain groups at the expense of other groups.

Social justice effectively changes government from an institution that is supposed to protect everyone’s property rights to an organization that destroys some people’s property rights in the name of “equality.” In this way, Dr. Hendrickson argues that “social justice” has become a codeword for socialism. He pointed to ways the U.S. government interferes with the free market in the name of social justice and equality. Examples include affirmative action, the ESG craze, and the current administration’s attempt to force the use of electric vehicles.

Dr. Hendrickson argues that social justice contradicts early American ideals of “meritocracy.” A time when people were free to go as far as their talents would take them without worry that the government would interfere. Indeed, Dr. Hendrickson points out that both the 9th and 10th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are designed to protect individual rights against the enemy of freedom: government power.

 

Interested in hearing more from Dr. Hendrickson?

Dr. Hendrickson’s next lecture in October will be answering the question, “Should Government Help the Poor?”

You can find other lectures in the series Economic with Dr. Hendrickson here.

 

About the Author

Scott T. Cross is a content editor for Checkpoint News from Columbiana, Ohio. As a junior student at Grove City College, Scott is majoring in Economics with a minor in Music. He is a marketing fellow at the Institute for Faith and Freedom.

During the summers of 2023 and 2024, Scott interned as a Research Assistant at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy in Pittsburgh. There, he co-authored numerous published Research Briefs analyzing and advocating for public policies that promote private property and roll back the ever-increasing scope of government power. Scott also appeared on multiple radio broadcasts to discuss his research.

On campus he serves as Vice President of the Mises Society, an organization he co-founded that seeks to promote fellowship and the ideas congruent with the Austrian School of Economics

Scott has won a Don Lavoie Fellowship through the Mercatus Center, is a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon international honors society in economics, and his work has been published by the Mises Institute.

Following Graduation, Scott intends to pursue graduate studies in either economics or law.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.

Cover Image: The Institute for Faith and Freedom (cropped).