Economist Daniel Di Martino Cites Catholic Subsidiarity in Opposition to Socialism

Economist Daniel Di Martino, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University, recently articulated a clear opposition to socialism, grounding his argument in both Catholic social teaching and his firsthand experience in Venezuela. In a recent tweet, Di Martino stated, > "Why should we oppose socialism? As Catholics and Christians, the answer is clear. Socialism disturbs the human ecology God designed." He emphasized that the ideology disrupts the natural order intended by divine design.

Di Martino, who grew up in Venezuela, has frequently shared his personal accounts of the country's decline under socialist policies. He founded the Dissident Project, an initiative aimed at educating high school students about the detrimental effects of socialist regimes, drawing on the experiences of immigrants who fled such systems. His work highlights the practical failures of centralized economic control.

A core tenet of Di Martino's argument, aligning with Catholic doctrine, is the principle of subsidiarity. This principle, articulated in papal encyclicals such as Pope Pius XI's Quadragesimo Anno, posits that social and economic functions should be handled by the lowest competent authority, such as families, associations, and businesses, rather than by a centralized state. Di Martino argues that state overreach, particularly through ownership, disturbs this moral ecology.

He contends that when the state assumes roles traditionally belonging to individuals and private entities, it undermines human freedom and responsibility. This perspective suggests that state ownership can lead to a moral corruption where work loses its dignity, and citizens become dependent on the state rather than acting as co-creators of prosperity. This, he asserts, leads to "empty souls" and a decline in societal virtue, beyond just economic inefficiency.

Di Martino's advocacy extends to public speaking and writing, where he consistently warns against the "creep of socialism" in various forms. He maintains that while America is not Venezuela, the erosion of subsidiarity can lead to similar outcomes, impacting not only economic wealth but also the moral health of the nation.