Hey Bezos, I'm also deciding to change directions.
I shared this note with the Washington Post team this morning:
Iâm writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages.
We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. Weâll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.
There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the readerâs doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.
I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of Americaâs success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical â it minimizes coercion â and practical â it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.
I offered David Shipley, whom I greatly admire, the opportunity to lead this new chapter. I suggested to him that if the answer wasnât âhell yes,â then it had to be âno.â After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it wonât be easy, and it will require 100% commitment â I respect his decision. Weâll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction.
Iâm confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. Iâm excited for us together to fill that void.
Jeff