Does Someone Need to Stand Athwart DOGE?

Yelling "Stop" when they come for the fence

I wrote a very wonky column two weeks ago. But it’s become, according to Substack, one of my most popular. That’s especially odd because it was behind the paywall. And because it’s really, really wonky.

The subject it covers has only gotten more important since I published it, so I’m removing the paywall. It’s now available to all.

It’s called “Chesterton’s Regulation,” and it’s about conservatism and DOGE.

I’ll briefly explain the gist, but I hope you give it a read.

The concept of “Chesterton’s Fence” is central to conservatism. A conservative is prudent not radical. A conservative trusts the wisdom of those who came before. A conservative is careful with longstanding institutions. A conservative should always seek to understand why an old fence is where it is and why it has been there for so long before deciding to take it down. The fence’s purpose is probably not obvious. It has probably solved problems you didn’t know existed. Bringing it down might well bring old problems back to life and cause new problems.

Now, I’m a fan of DOGE-like efforts in concept. I want government entities to be lean and focused. I do think they can grow bossy and expensive. I do think they can become sclerotic and wayward.

But DOGE is cutting fast and deep.

I do not have faith that those doing the cutting know why all those fences were put up.

My column, “Chesterton’s Regulation,” is based on a fictitious law and grant program. I try to show why an inadequately informed “cut it” mentality can do real harm.