State Policy Network recently welcomed Ben Wilterdink to the team as SPN’s new Director of Policy Initiatives.
In this role, Ben will lead the Energy, Healthcare, and Fiscal/Regulatory policy working groups at SPN. Ben will manage SPN’s policy fellows and lead the programs that support affiliate members’ issue campaigns.
We sat down with Ben to learn more about his career path, sources of inspiration, and thoughts on the next big opportunity for the freedom movement.
Ben: I first got involved with the freedom movement as a junior in college, when I interned at Americans for Tax Reform. I was quickly disabused of my initial fear that working on tax policy would be incredibly boring. Instead, I learned a lot and it was a great experience that exposed me to the wider network of coalitions and groups involved in advancing good public policy solutions in the real world. From then on, I knew I wanted to be a part of that effort.
Ben: Reading Milton and Rose Friedman’s Free to Choose as a college student really struck a chord with me. I had grown up in a household where political discussions were frequent and open, but that book really opened up the world of classical liberal thought for me and set me on the path of learning more and eventually dedicating my work to the cause of freedom and human flourishing.
Ben: The next big opportunity for the freedom movement is for state policymakers to adopt solutions that work well and address problems that fill the gap created by dysfunction at the federal level. I know, it might sound cliche to say “look to the states” in a State Policy Network interview, but
There has always been a significant role for states to play in our federal system of government, but that is practically needed now more than ever given the deep problems at the federal level.
Ben: I have been fortunate to work with or around state think tanks and the State Policy Network for most of my career. From my start at the American Legislative Exchange Council to my most recent role at the Archbridge Institute, state policy has always been a top priority. So when an opportunity came up to work with SPN and help state think tanks achieve their goals on issues I cared about, I was excited to get on board.
Ben: Working every day to promote freedom and make the world better is deeply rewarding in itself, and I am grateful that I have had the chance to make this my career. As to working with a network of others striving to achieve those goals, what I enjoy most is that it comes with a deep sense of camaraderie and fellow feeling; it’s great to work with other talented people who want to achieve the same goals, understand how important those goals are, and with whom I can share wins and shoulder setbacks.
Ben: If I feel overwhelmed or unfocused, all I have to do is gaze at a bust of Milton Friedman (just kidding—although I do have a picture of George Washington above my desk). Generally, I find taking a walk outside or drinking a cup of tea helps get me back to a place where I can be productive again. And some instrumental lofi music helps too.
Ben: My best advice for others considering a career like mine is to go for it. Understand there are tradeoffs, you might be able to make more money or gain more prestige doing something else, but working towards something that matters—and (when you’re successful) genuinely makes other people’s lives better—is deeply rewarding. More practically, I’d advise picking up a skill that would make you valuable in any other business setting; our movement desperately needs good marketers, storytellers, accountants, and tech experts. Advocates for freedom can’t get very far without these skills and capacities.
Ben: Well aside from the Network newsletters and Network Effects of course, I enjoy listening to a lot of different podcasts. From The Rest is History, to The Remnant, I think the audio format that can facilitate longer conversations has a lot to offer. Basically, anything that’s not traditional cable news is good though.
Ben: Despite being new to SPN as a staff member, I have been to my fair share of Annual Meetings over the years. One favorite moment must be the speech Mike Rowe, host of Dirty Jobs, gave during one of the dinners. It was an inspiring speech taking issue with the safety first mantra of our day and highlighting how ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves. Of course, he had to sprinkle in some great farm labor stories to make the point—perfect for a dinner speech.
Ben: In terms of the broader public, I wish more people understood that SPN isn’t a top-down organization and instead exists to serve and support completely independent state-based organizations. Within the Network, I wish more people knew about the variety of programs, peer groups, and information sharing opportunities available to help build knowledge and capacity that can help in achieving their goals.
Ben: Perhaps selfishly, I think more organizations should be a part of the policy working groups we host. Yes, several of those are in my portfolio, but being able to connect with counterparts in other states who are working on the same issues, or who perhaps tackled those issues in the past, is really a great resource. Being able to get feedback on what you might be able to expect if you tackle this or that and talk with peers who share your goals can be something that helps better shape your strategy and really makes your efforts more effective.
Ben: Ok, this is tough to pin down to a single issue. But I’d have to say that Reasonable Childhood Independence Laws (formerly known as Free Range Kids Laws) are top of mind for me right now. There are so many instances of parents being punished by local authorities for allowing their kids a little bit of healthy independence and unsupervised time. Not only is that unjust for the families themselves, but this dynamic impedes the development of kids who need the opportunity to engage in free and independent play, which helps them develop the soft skills they need to succeed, to build the confidence that will help them develop into capable adults, and allows them to build up some anti-fragility when it comes to mental health.
Ben: It’s difficult to narrow the list down to just three books or thought leaders that have greatly influenced my life, a feeling to which I’m sure most readers can relate, but I’ll try. I’ve already mentioned Free to Choose by Milton and Rose Friedman, it really did open up this excellent world of ideas for me (and the TV show was great too). Jonah Goldberg, both in his current role as Editor-in-Chief of The Dispatch, and as the author of several interesting books has also been a major influence on me. Finally, I’d have to highlight Paul Vanderklay, a somewhat obscure pastor in California, has done some great “thinking out loud” that has influenced me thinking quite a bit. Of course, my colleagues and co-workers over the years have all had major impacts on me as well.
Ben: I’m probably changing a diaper or taking the kids on an errand. More seriously, I am very fortunate to have a two-year-old and a two-month-old and I try to spend as much time with them as possible. Otherwise, I’m probably convincing my wife that this next camping and/or fishing trip is really going to be great.
Ben: Probably my most unusual hobby, if you can call it that, is collecting the many fantastic tools that the Ryobi power tool brand has to offer for my never-ending list of home improvement projects. I don’t think that trying to cook new recipes while, of course, listening to in-depth podcasts on history, politics, and religion is all that unusual or absurd, but I’m happy to let readers decide.
