Bats
The Financial Crisis broke our trust in capitalism. The Pandemic destroyed our faith in government.
How COVID Broke Our Trust In Government
Bethany McLean on trust in institutions.
‘The problems with our COVID-19 response went deeper than incoherent, unscientific public health mandates. If the global financial crisis of 2008 started a mistrust of capitalism, the pandemic exacerbated it. For instance, despite what we say about the importance of small business to our economy, people saw that when push came to pandemic-era shove, small businesses suffered while big business benefitted, both from the largesse of the Federal Reserve and from a lockdown policy that closed small operators and left big ones open. Again, why? Is there a way to make sure that doesn’t happen in the future?’
A Supreme Court Ruling May Make It Harder for Government Agencies to Use Good Science
Let’s play out what a reversal of Chevron might mean. It would diminish the influence of experts. It would force Congress to pass clear legislation with explicit language. Experts may not choose to work for the government, preferring the public sector or the academy.
There would be much less “discretion” in agency decision-making.
Would it mean less regulation in the long-run?
‘Judicial deference to agencies’ expertise is crucial to how U.S. medical and environmental regulation, in particular, currently works. For example, the FDA currently uses its discretion to loosen approval requirements for treatments of rare diseases, such as by permitting historical records to substitute for a control group in a clinical trial, says Reshma Ramachandran, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine, who has a background in public policy. And the agency’s ability to regulate new products—such as vaping systems and genetic tests marketed directly to consumers—can rely on the ambiguity in terms such as “medical devices” in legislation from Congress.’
Bureaucracy greatly delays the application of euthanasia in Spain
What’s the point of having a euthanasia law if many of the people applying for assisted death die of natural causes before their request is approved?
‘Three years after the law came into effect, cases are being resolved on average in 75 days, when they should not take more than 35’
Channing Tatum Blames ‘Bureaucracy’ for Stalling ’23 Jump Street,’ Confirms Jonah Hill Would Return
By the time 23 Jump Street gets the green light Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum will be middle-aged. Where are they going to go undercover? Little League coaching school?
‘“There is a project that was written and it’s still the best script that I’ve ever read for a third movie,” Tatum said. “It’s just a lot of bureaucracy, kind of above the line stuff. It’s really hard to get it made and we’ve been trying to get it done.”’
Military Has Turned Into ‘Vast DEI Bureaucracy’ Under Biden, Study Finds
Young people join the service for a variety of reasons: patriotism, to learn new skills, to see the world, to get out of some small town, family history.
The American military is one of the most diverse entities in the country already. It was in the vanguard of implementing civil rights.
What is the marginal benefit of DEI initiatives at this scale when the military’s biggest problem is recruitment and retention?
‘The Biden administration has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which first started to be implemented roughly four decades ago, in the military since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. A year-long study by the Arizona State University Center for American Institutions, examining online and published materials, alleges that current DEI policies and programs are creating a “race and sex-based scapegoating and stereotyping” environment in the military and hampering defense effectiveness.’
The tax system’s baffling complexity holds Britain back
‘Last year, callers to HMRC telephone helplines spent nearly 7mn hours waiting on hold — more than twice as long as in 2019.
‘Overloaded helplines are far from the only pothole in the road for diligent taxpayers. Onerous form-filling, baffling complexity, an inability to access clear guidance and prompt repayments — all these hinder the ability to do business and contribute to growth and increased productivity for the UK.’
SEC’s Gary Gensler on his agenda: ‘If the courts adjust, we adjust’
You don’t say. Gensler thinks his regulatory stance may be more impactful than that of his predecessors.
‘Industry critics often argue the SEC has adopted too many rules too quickly. But Gensler pushed back against these claims, noting that predecessors including Mary Schapiro finalised more measures. It was a “false narrative”, Gensler said, while conceding that the rules he had pursued “might be more consequential”.’
Another Biden Loan Forgiveness Gift
We are now entering the phase where officials don’t want to make rules, cognizant of the Administrative Procedure Act.
‘The department last week said it isn’t proposing a rule to expand the program, but instead is soliciting feedback on “different approaches that might be considered when implementing non-rulemaking solutions related to this issue.” In other words, Biden officials plan to circumvent the Administrative Procedure Act to expand the program.
‘Perhaps they worry that the expansion, if done by regulation, would be challenged in court. Congress has established other special loan forgiveness programs, including for teachers in low-income schools and doctors in under-served areas. President Biden could work with Congress to create one for pre-K teachers.’‘