Last week, Washington Policy Center (WPC) began a billboard campaign across the state that is turning heads and causing a social media stir.
 
The billboards advertise the message “Free Markets Destroy” –  part of a bold, inspirational and first-of-its-kind campaign to highlight the value of the free market specifically to younger generations. WPC's “Free Markets Destroy” campaign will focus on the power of the marketplace to destroy society’s worst problems and continually improve our lives with new creations.

The project was initially envisioned as "Free Markets Create" but after testing messages, it became clear that the angle of creative destruction was the attention-grabbing, engaging approach that really appealed to the younger audiences.
 
WPC teamed up with the creative studio Emergent Order in Austin for the statewide effort that launches in full today on social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. The campaign has the potential to reach millions of Washingtonians, specifically the youngest generations.
 
“We have a growing concern – young Americans are warming to the idea of socialism and they have a skeptical perception of our free enterprise system,” explained WPC President Dann Mead Smith. “That trend cannot go unchallenged. Younger Americans are the first to pursue new technology, new cures, and all of the things the free market system provides. We know that the Free Market Destroys the things everyone in society hates – and replaces them with something even better.”
 
A 2019 Gallup poll showed Americans as a whole do not believe in Socialism, however over the past few years young adults’ overall impression of capitalism and free markets has steadily declined.
 
"Young people want to change what's broken in our society," explained John Papola, the co-founder of Emergent Order. "WPC’s campaign is about introducing new audiences to the power of free markets as a revolutionary force for positive change through the process of creative destruction."
 
The Free Markets Destroy campaign will initially focus on five key areas; Free Markets Destroy climate change, high rents, boredom, hunger and disease. 

Additional Free Markets Destroy resources:

• WEBSITE: Learn more at the Free Markets Destroy website
• STORE: Purchase Free Markets Destroy merchandise – proceeds fund the Free Markets Destroy campaign!
• BLOG: Check out the Markets Improve Everything blog!
• DONATE: Support WPC’s Free Markets Destroy campaign