Interview: Jared Rhoads of the Lucidicus Project

[brian0918]

Check out my recent interview with Jared Rhoads of the Lucidicus Project, which promotes the moral foundations of capitalism among the next generation of healthcare providers. My favorite bits:

Have you had any memorable exchanges or experiences over the past few years?

Many of the students who write to us are so thrilled to have discovered The Lucidicus Project that when they request a kit, they go on and on for paragraphs—usually along a storyline that roughly conveys the following: 1) everyone around them believes in some flavor of state intervention in healthcare, for example single-payer, 2) they know that there is something wrong with that approach, but 3) they don’t know exactly what it is or how to articulate it. The materials in the kit help recipients discover these answers for themselves, at their own pace and on their own time. The students really are very thankful.

Do you have any suggestions for other people who are thinking about engaging in intellectual activism?

Yes. If the idea of getting involved in some sort of intellectual activism appeals to you, then try it out on a small scale and take it from there. No matter how much or how little time, money, or effort you can expend, there is always something that you can do. Pick an issue that is important to you and become fluent in it. Of course, depending on your idea, realize that you may need to be patient. People are not going to link to your blog right away, or start sending you money, or publish your article without knowing who you are. Some forms of activism (like letters to editors) can yield relatively quick results; others take time. The effort is usually worth it!