Young Americans have a growing fascination with socialism. Washington state in particular is home to a growing socialist movement—especially in the Seattle area, where socialist city council members have been elected and are popular amongst the youngest generations. Today’s young, socialist-minded college students will be tomorrow’s political leaders unless they are introduced, in a compelling way, to a different mindset and philosophy.

The Washington Policy Center (WPC) wanted to show Millennials and Generation Z the power of the free market—and communicate it in a way that they could understand. That’s why WPC created Free Markets Destroy—an innovative, bold effort to explain the power of the free market to the next generation.

Free Markets Destroy harnesses young Americans’ instincts to change what’s broken and tear down the barriers that stand in their way. The irony is that is what the free market does best. The campaign is designed to persuade more people to look into and favor free markets.

The effort includes informative, interactive videos, a campaign website, a merchandise line, live engagement events and much more. The website details the power of the market to destroy five things these younger generations hate most—climate change, boredom, high rents, disease, and hunger.

1.4 million interact with Free Markets Destroy campaign

In less than a year, Washington Policy Center’s Free Markets Destroy campaign has been liked on social media by more than 20,000 Gen Z’s and Millennials across every corner of the United States. Washington state alone makes up for nearly half of those numbers—a remarkable showing for one of the most-blue states in the union.

But even more impressive has been the reach. More than 11 million social media accounts across the country have seen this creative destruction message. In addition, 1.4 million are interacting with the campaign and 1.2 million have watched a Free Markets Destroy video—the majority in Washington state.

Videos long and short have included an entertaining and innovative explanation of the power of the free market, the rules of the market, the ability to destroy the high cost of college education, how the market raises household incomes and much more. The interactive website arms readers with intellectual firepower—giving real-life examples of how the market is improving by destroying. And bi-weekly emails highlight the newest examples of free-market success.

In addition, WPC’s efforts has produced nearly 100 different merchandise designs being purchased by Millennials and Gen Z’s across the country, a COVID mask with the campaign slogan sent to newsrooms around Washington state, billboard designs, posters for legislative offices, and hundreds of organic and page like ads on social media.

When launched in August of 2020, the campaign announcement caught the attention of many national news organizations with a total pickup from 100 different media outlets. The effort even got the attention of former ABC 20/20 host John Stossel and former Florida Governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush, who said “kudos to the Washington Policy Center for leading the charge in educating and advocating for the good power of free markets.”

Chris Cargill, the Eastern Washington director at Washington Policy Center added:

“The results of the campaign in just the first 12 months have provided a new opening for the free market movement and Washington Policy Center. A remarkable series of exchanges is now happening on our social media channels—where many have liked the page without necessarily understanding the creative destruction message. This gives us the chance to pepper their feeds with pro-market examples in a language they have never heard before.”

WPC is now building on the success of the campaign and hopes to spread the effort to every other state. The organization is offering SPN members the opportunity to become partners in the campaign at no price.

For their success in bringing the free-market message to thousands of young Americans, the Washington Policy Center is a finalist in State Policy Network’s Communications Excellence Awards, in the Bold Brand Boost Award.