Overton Window Follow Up

So I've decided that I won't be posting my scholarly writings on Overton Window Theory. Primarily because I plan to do more with them in the future, but also because, well, I just don't have time right now to clean them up and bring them up to speed with my current thinking.

However, just in case anyone finds their way here after reading discussions regarding the Overton Window that have taken place on several Internet discussion boards, I would like to point out that the whole idea behind Overton Window Theory is not for it to be a grand strategic design of the conspiratorial right-wing. Rather, OWT is simply a tool to explain what a think-tank does and to help people understand how a think-tank or public research organization can have an impact on public policy.

In reality, the entire concept of the Overton Window is merely a further example of a fundamental economic trait - one that I have picked-up over the years and one that Joe Overton apparently possessed. That trait is the naming of and fitting complex theories to common truths/mechanics that have been occurring of their own accord, happily un-named. Then along comes an economist, joyously declaring "look, supply and demand" or "hey, let's formalize how think-tanks impact policy."

And that is really what the Overton Window is all about - the formalization of think-tank workings and influence in a way that can be understood by just about anyone, and yet is also of interest to the most highly educated economists and public policy nuts.



Oh, and the impetus behind this post? My recent discovery that my Current Comment for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (on Overton Window Theory) was the second most read CC of 2006, that there is a Wikipedia page for OWT, and that the concept of OWT was picked up by several blogs holding views very different from MCPP's limited-government, free-market, ideals. Do a search for "Overton Window" and you will see what I've seen - with the exception of my academic stuff.

Here is the ranking of MCPP CCs.

Here is the original MCPP article.

Here is my previous blog posting on the Overton Window.
(similar to the previous, but I like it a little more)