Chambers of commerce have long occupied a clear and measurable role in American economic life: they opposed government expansion when it threatened business. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce still scores legislators based on how they vote regarding tax, regulatory and tort issues. Its litigation arm has become one of the most active opponents of federal agencies in court, filing hundreds of briefs to limit overreach. In major policy fights, such as around the Affordable Care Act, the Chamber spent millions opposing the federal government’s agenda.

That role has not disappeared, but has been diluted—especially at local levels.

Over the past decade, many chambers shifted from pro-market organizations that counter-balance the government agenda to ones that operate roughly alongside it. 

The Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce, which is the branch in my hometown, is an example. I’ve been a member for a year now and have found that its overarching goal, to the extent I can decipher one, is promoting DEI (that is ranked the third most important policy initiative on its website). Chamber events and marketing materials are lathered with statements about race- and gender-based hiring promotions, grant allocations, and awards.

That might not seem notable—most large corporate entities these days are on the DEI bandwagon. But I’ve found that such open appeals to left-wing social activism are usually upstream from........

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